Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography of Malignant Disease of the Jaws

The use of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool for superficial fascial space infections

PURPOSE

This study examined the value of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool in the treatment of superficial acute odontogenic fascial space infections.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study group consisted of 50 patients in whom both radiographic and sonographic examinations, as well as a needle aspiration, were performed.

RESULTS

Purulent fluid was aspirated in 22 of the 50 patients. Six patients diagnosed as suffering from cellulitis had a repeated ultrasonography scan. In four, abscess formation was diagnosed on the third day.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasonography is an effective diagnostic tool to confirm abscess formation in the superficial fascial spaces and is highly predictable in detecting the stage of infection.

Central calcifying odontogenic cyst. A review of the literature and the role of advanced imaging techniques

The central calcifying odontogenic cyst (CCOC) is a rare lesion. This paper reports a new case, reviews the clinical, histomorphological and radiographic features reported in the literature and describes the CT and MRI features of this new case. We postulate that, as part of an evolutionary process, cystic COCs originate as unilocular lesions but may later become multilocular. The role of advanced imaging and histology in the diagnostic process are discussed.

Correlation of imaging and clinical features in the assessment of mandibular invasion of oral carcinomas

The detection in the mandible of early local spreading of adjacent primary malignancies poses a difficult problem. A survey of 60 patients suspected of carcinomatous mandibular infiltration was undertaken, and the most important clinical and imaging data were studied. Tumor localization and bone scintigraphy proved to offer the most important predictive power. A decision tree and a logistic regression model which determines a score function combining these characteristics were designed. This decision tree improves the sensitivity and specificity of the preoperative assessment and provides the surgeon with an algorithm for the accurate estimation of early mandibular invasion.