Incidental dentomaxillofacial findings on cone beam computed tomography images of Iranian population

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The present study aimed to assess the nature and prevalence of incidental findings in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of oral and maxillofacial patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, ۷۷۳ CBCT samples were retrieved from archives of a private oral and maxillofacial radiology center. Any findings that were not related to the reason of CBCT request was recorded in forms designed originally for this study. RESULTS: ۴۷۵ patients out of ۷۷۳ had at least one incidental finding. It composed about ۶۰% of the patients. The largest frequency of incidental findings were cases of periapical lesions. (n = ۱۸۹), followed by mucous thickening of maxillary sinus (n = ۱۷۰), retained root (n = ۳۲), impaction and ۳rd molar (n = ۲۶). Other incidental findings were torus (n = ۲۵), dental anomalies (n = ۱۳), vertical root fracture (n = ۵), intra bony lesion and periapical pathosis (n = ۴) and the lowest frequency was sialoliths (n = ۱). CONCLUSION: About half of the subjects have had at least one incidental finding, so the precise review of the CBCT images seems to be necessary.

Keywords:

Incidental findings , Cone beam computed tomography , Dentomaxillofacial