Application of cross-sectional imaging in the differential diagnosis of apical radiolucency

A case is described in which exact localization of a cystic lesion associated with the apices of the maxillary central incisor teeth was sought to aid diagnosis and presurgical planning. The area was imaged using cross-sectional tomographic slices in the sagittal plane produced by a Scanora multimodal tomographic unit (Orion Corporation Soredex, Helsinki, Finland). The images demonstrated the cystic lesion arising within the incisive canal, conforming a diagnosis of naso-palatine duct cyst. Surgery was therefore performed via a palatal approach giving direct access to the cyst. Histological examination of the enucleated cyst confirmed a nasopalatine duct cyst.