Research objective. The study aimed to evaluate cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) capabilities in diagnostics of cystic masses of the jaw.Methods. Over a period of 2015–2016 32 patients age 6 to 67 underwent both panoramic tomography and CBCT (using panoramic tomographic scanner STRATO 2000 and cone-beam computed tomographic scanner i-Cat respectively). 47% (n = 15) of the participants were women, 53% (n = 17) – men. Radiation exposure for a single procedure amounts to 0,05 mSv for panoramic tomography, 0,07 mSv for CBCT (FOV =13 cm), 0,06 mSv for CBCT (FOV =8 cm).Results. Comparative analysis of obtained results demonstrates that CBCT showed 54% (n = 27) more cystic masses of the jaws than panoramic radiography could. CBCT additionally showed the following pathologies: granulomas smaller than4 mm diameter – 85% (n = 23), 83% (n = 23) of said granulomas were found on maxilla, radicular cysts of maxilla – 11% (n = 3), incisive canal cyst – 4% (n = 1). Additionally panoramic tomography analysis misdiagnosed 5 granulomas (80% (n = 4) on mandibular premolar and molar areas) that were not found during CBCT analysis.Conclusion. The low effective dose and high informativity of CBCT enables the method to be used instead of intraoral radiography, panoramic tomography and MSCT as a screening procedure in diagnostics of dento-facial system pathologies, including cystic masses of the jaw.
The Role of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in Diagnostics of Cystic Masses of the Jaw