Jaw expansive lesions: population incidence and CT dentalscan role

Aim. The aim of the study is to evaluate the incidence of different expansive lesions and the advantages of the clinical employment of Dentalscan to study bones lesions and to establish a common diagnostic path. Materials and methods. Since January 2005 to November 2009, 3200 patients, not selected for sex or age, have undergone a CT “Dentalscan” in the department of Diagnostic Imaging, Tor Vergata University Hospital (PTV), a suspect bone pathology was found in 704 of them through the XR-orthopantomograpy (OPT). CT images were obtained with General Electric CT Light Speed multislice. Images were saved in the Advantage Workstation (GE) supported by the “Dentascan” dedicated software and by the 3D software (3D SSD). The protocol was : Slice thickness 1,25 mm, gap 0, matrix 512 x 512, 140 KV and 70 mA. All the lesions were also studied with the dedicated three-dimensional reconstructor 3D SSD. Biopsy for diagnosis was performed on all the lesions, except one (false positive with digital OPT). The technique sensitivity was assessed for two important classes: benign and malignant lesions. Results. Through CT Dentascan a detailed evaluation of the jaws lesions and their extension was obtained. 656 patients (93.1 %) out of 704 examined for a suspicious lesion on the orthopantomography had a benign lesion: (127 follicular cysts (18.2 %), 181 radicular cysts (25.1%), 93 non odontogenic cysts (13.2%), 29 fibroma (4.2%), 198 odontomes (28.2%), 24 ameloblastoma (3.6%), 4 brown tumors (0.7%), 47 (6.9%) had malignant lesions: (12 carcinoma (1.7%), 29 metastasis (4.3%), 6 sarcoma (0.8%), 1 Dentascan CT resulted to be negative (1 false positive of digital OPT). The sensitivity of the technique for both groups was 99% for benign lesions and 98% for malign lesions. Conclusions. CT Dentascan characteristics suggest to consider these techniques as the gold standard for the evaluation of jaw expansive lesions and the support of surgical planning.