Further Radiographic Interpretation Flashcards
What common abnormalities may you see on a radiograph?
- caries, periodontal bone loss, periapical granulomas
- impacted teeth, hypodontia, skeletal relationships
What uncommon abnormalities may you see on a radiograph?
- jaw cysts or tumours
- supernumeraries
- foreign bodies
What things may fall under the umbrella term “jaw lesions” and be seen on a radiograph?
- cysts
- benign neoplasms
- cancers
- developmental abnormalities
etc.
Are most jaw lesions radiopaque or radiolucent?
Radiolucent
What is the first step in diagnosis of any lesion on a radiograph?
Determine if the lesion is:
- anatomical
- artefactual
- pathological
What things should be included when describing lesions on a radiograph?
- site
- size
- shape
- margins
- internal structure
- effect on adjacent anatomy
- number
What does a corticated lesion sometimes suggest about the type of lesion?
benign
What does a moth-eaten lesion sometimes suggest about the type of lesion?
malignancy
What makes jaw lesions radiolucent?
- resorption of bone
- reduced mineralisation of bone
- reduced bone thickness
- replacement of bone with abnormal, less-mineralised tissue
What makes jaw lesions radiopaque?
- increased thickness of bone
- osteosclerosis of bone
- presence of abnormal tissues
- mineralisation of non-mineralised tissues
What are some potential causes of periapical radiolucencies?
- periapical granuloma
- periapical abscess
- radicular cyst
- perio-endo lesion
- cemento-osseous dysplasia
- surgical defect
- ameloblastoma occurring next to tooth
What can cause a cyst to lose its well-defined, corticated margin?
infection
what is idiopathic osteosclerosis?
localised area of increased bone density of unknown cause
What is the radiographic presentation of idiopathic osteosclerosis?
- well-defined radiopacity
- variable shape
- size usually <2cm
- often appears next to teeth
what is sclerosing osteitis?
localised area of increased bone density in response to inflammation
