Accessory Mental Foramen Misdiagnosed as Radiolucent Tumour by Conventional Dental Radiography

Shoko Gamoh,Kimishige Shimizutani,Michiko Nakatsuka,Yasutomo Iwai,Shosuke Morita,Hironori Akiyama,Yui Mori,Yumiko Ogawa

doi:10.4236/ojrad.2014.42022

Abstract

The mental foramen is an important landmark for identifying the mental nerve, and the accessory mental foramen is a rare anatomical variation. This article describes the use of computed tomo- graphy (CT) to detect an accessory mental foramen that was initially misdiagnosed as a radiolu- cent tumour in the right premolar region of a 39-year-old woman by panoramic radiography. The case suggests that preoperative CT should be performed to detect any anatomical variations. This knowledge would help in diagnosis, preoperative planning and prevention of intraoperative nerve or vascular injury.

Highlights

The mental foramen is located on the anterolateral aspect of the mandible, 13 - 15 mm superior to the inferior border of the mandibular body, and oriented outwards and upwards [1]
This article describes the use of computed tomography (CT) to detect an accessory mental foramen that was initially misdiagnosed as a radiolucent tumour by panoramic radiography
A 39-year-old asymptomatic woman was referred to our institution because of a radiolucent area found in the mandible by routine panoramic radiography

Summary

Introduction

The mental foramen is located on the anterolateral aspect of the mandible, 13 - 15 mm superior to the inferior border of the mandibular body, and oriented outwards and upwards [1]. It appears as a single circular or elliptical radiolucent area in the premolar region. How to cite this paper: Gamoh, S., et al (2014) Accessory Mental Foramen Misdiagnosed as Radiolucent Tumour by Conventional Dental Radiography. This article describes the use of CT to detect an accessory mental foramen that was initially misdiagnosed as a radiolucent tumour by panoramic radiography

Case Report

Discussion