Imaging Sci Dent. 2020 Mar;50(1):53-64. doi: 10.5624/isd.2020.50.1.53. Epub 2020 Mar 17.
Abstract
Purpose:
The
aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of incidental
findings (IFs) on digital dental panoramic radiographs (DPRs) of
asymptomatic patients attending a general dental practice.
Materials and Methods:
This
was a retrospective study of 6,252 consecutive digital
(photostimulatable phosphor) DPRs of patients who visited a Canadian
general dental practice for a complete new patient examination. The IFs
were grouped into dental-related anomalies, radiopacities and
radiopacities in the jaws, changes in the shape of the condyles, and
other findings in the jaws, such as tonsilloliths and mucosal antral
pseudocysts. Their prevalence was determined.
Results:
Thirty-two
percent of the DPRs showed at least 1 IF. The highest prevalence was
found for dental-related anomalies (29% of all DPRs), of which impacted
teeth were the most prevalent finding (24% of all DPRs), followed by
idiopathic osteosclerosis (6% of all DPRs). A lower prevalence was noted
for tonsilloliths (3%), and the prevalence of root tips, mucosal antral
pseudocysts, and anomalies in condylar shape was approximately 1% each.
Conclusion:
The
observed prevalence of 32.1% for IFs of any type underscores the need
for a dental practitioner to review the entire DPR when a patient
presents for an initial dental examination (or check-up) or for dental
hygiene. Only a single IF (a central giant cell granuloma) provoked
alarm, as it was initially considered malignant. Similarly, impacted
teeth and suspected cysts need careful evaluation upon discovery to
determine how they may be optimally managed.
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