Application of CT for the Study of Pathology of the Jaws

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) scanning is very useful in identifying and evaluating the location, size, and suspected pathological diagnosis of lesions such as cysts, tumors, and infections. At the same time, it aids in the elucidation of bone and surrounding soft tissue invasion of lesions with high resolution.1, 2 In the maxilla and mandible, teeth are included and the CT capacity there can distinguished a foreign body of only 30 μm. Precise size and location are needed in the evaluation of lesions in the maxilla and mandible based on a high resolution in addition to the suspected pathological diagnosis based on CT findings. Therefore, multi-detector CT (MDCT) scanning is commonly applied for various kinds of lesions in the maxilla and mandible because of its precision and diagnostic accuracy. Multidetector CT scanning provides rapid acquisition of numerous thin axial images and more accurate reconstruction images. Multi-detector CT scanning provides accurate information about the height, width, and three-dimensional (3D) evaluation of the maxilla and mandible, as well as detailed information about the location of normal anatomical structures, such as the mandibular canal, mental foramen, mandibular foramen, incisive foramen, and maxillary sinus. In addition, the relationship between lesions and anatomical landmarks, including cortical margins and roots of teeth, can be established. These images are also excellent because MDCT eliminates streak artifacts from dental restorations that degrade direct coronal CT scans. With MDCT, axial images are used to reformat the cross-sectional images, projecting the artifact along the crowns of the teeth rather than over the bone that is the region of interest.3 At the same time, CT readings of lesions in the maxilla and mandible measured by MDCT can reflect the nature and inclusion within lesions, from which