Central Odontogenic Myxoma: A Radiographic Analysis

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
• Pathology
• Oncology

Background:

• Odontogenic myxomas (OMs) are benign but locally aggressive tumors originating from odontogenic ectomesenchyme.
• Accurate radiographic assessment is crucial for diagnosis and treatment planning of OMs.
• Understanding the radiographic characteristics and their interrelationships can improve diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the radiographic characteristics of odontogenic myxomas (OMs).
• To investigate the associations between various radiographic features of OMs.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of radiographs from 2005-2019.
• Inclusion of patients with histopathologically confirmed central OMs.
• Evaluation of radiographic features: location, border, locularity, involved area, number of teeth, root resorption, tooth displacement, bone expansion, bone perforation, and periosteal reaction.
• Statistical analysis using Fisher's exact test.

Main Results:

• Significant associations were found between OM border and affected jaw (p=0.036), locularity (p=0.036), involved areas (p=0.009), and bone perforation (p=0.036).
• Ill-defined OM borders correlated with maxillary lesions, multilocularity, dentate areas, and cortical bone perforation.
• The number of involved teeth (≤2 vs. ≥3) showed significant associations with locularity (p=0.010), involved area (p=0.045), and bone expansion (p=0.010).
• Larger OMs (≥3 teeth) were linked to multilocular appearance, dentate areas, and bone expansion.

Conclusions:

• The radiographic border and the number of involved teeth are key indicators related to other OM appearances.
• Recognizing these radiographic relationships aids in treatment decisions and understanding the nature of OMs.