Radiologic considerations in evaluation of radiolucent lesions of the mandible

Careful attention to technique is of utmost importance in instances in which clinical evidence indicates that the osteolytic or osteogenic margins of a lesion may extend beyond those visible on a conventional radiograph. Procedures such as radionuclide scans should be used to establish the appropriate boundaries for surgical resection in such instances. Although early surgical intervention will usually lead to a definitive histopathologic diagnosis, there is some risk that manipulation will either compromise the validity of later radiological procedure or extend the disease by local dissemination or blood-borne metastases. Appropriate radiologic evaluation of lytic lesions of the mandible can provide a maximum amount of information so that surgical resection of the lesion will be complete, and the possibility of recurrence will be reduced.