Emergency Radiology

, Volume 15, Issue 6, pp 367–374 | Cite as

Cemento-osseous dysplasia, a radiological mimic of periapical dental abscess

Review Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

In the imaging evaluation of Emergency Department patients presenting with facial pain, there is a condition that can mimic the radiographic appearance of a periapical dental abscess. This condition, cemento-osseous dysplasia, may appear similar on dental X-rays, panoramic radiographs, and computed tomography examinations to and must be distinguished from the more common periapical abscess in order to avoid inappropriate intervention. This review highlights the easy confusion of these two entities based on radiographic appearance and the clinical implications of such a mistake and suggests some approaches to avoid this error.

Keywords

Cementoma Periapical abscess Periapical granuloma Periapical cyst Dental radiograph Panoramic radiography 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

Figures 1, 2a–b, and 3 were provided by Bernard Friedland, DMD, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. Figure 5a–d was provided by Jerrold Resnick, DMD, Private practice of Family Dentistry, St. Petersburg, FL, USA. The remaining figures were obtained with permission from Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Radiology.

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Copyright information

© Am Soc Emergency Radiol 2008

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Oral & Maxillofacial SurgeryMassachusetts General HospitalBostonUSA
  2. 2.Department of RadiologyMassachusetts General HospitalBostonUSA

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