Premium
Incidental findings from cone beam computed tomography of the maxillofacial region: a descriptive retrospective study
Author(s) -
Price Jeffery B.,
Thaw Khin L.,
Tyndall Donald A.,
Ludlow John B.,
Padilla Ricardo J.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
clinical oral implants research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.407
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1600-0501
pISSN - 0905-7161
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0501.2011.02299.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cone beam computed tomography , soft tissue , dentistry , computed tomography , referral , retrospective cohort study , temporomandibular joint , pathological , radiology , orthodontics , surgery , pathology , family medicine
Objective To evaluate the type and prevalence of incidental findings from cone beam computed tomography ( CBCT ) of the maxillofacial region. Findings are divided into those that require (i) intervention/referral, (ii) monitoring, and (iii) no further evaluation. Methods Three hundred consecutive CBCT scans conducted in the U niversity of N orth C arolina S chool of D entistry O ral and M axillofacial R adiology C linic from J anuary 1 to A ugust 31, 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Findings were categorized into airway, soft tissue calcifications, bone, temporomandibular joint ( TMJ ), endodontic, dental developmental, and pathological findings. Results A total of 272 scans revealed 881 incidental findings (3.2 findings/scan). The most prevalent was airway findings (35%) followed by soft tissue calcifications (20%), bone (17.5%), TMJ (15.4%), endodontic (11.3%), dental developmental (0.7%), and pathological (0.1%). 16.1% required intervention/referral, 15.6% required monitoring, and the remainder (68.3%) required neither. Conclusion This study underscores the need to thoroughly examine all CBCT volumes for clinically significant findings within and beyond the region of interest.