Cone-Beam CT, CT and MRI for odontogenic tumors: a narrative review of imaging characteristics

Abstract

Objectives: This review article aims to examine the role of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the diagnosis and management of odontogenic tumors. Additionally, it evaluates CBCT's efficacy in the assessment of both benign and malignant odontogenic tumors, including ameloblastoma, odontoma, and odontogenic myxoma.
Review: This narrative review provides an in-depth analysis of CBCT imaging characteristics in the most common odontogenic tumors. The review highlights key CBCT features such as localization, peripheral structure, and internal architecture, emphasizing their impact on surrounding tissues. It compares the utility of CBCT with that of CT and MRI for the diagnosis of common odontogenic tumors, focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of each modality. The research questions addressed in this review include how CBCT can enhance diagnostic accuracy, what imaging characteristics are critical for differentiation between benign and malignant tumors, and how CBCT compares with traditional imaging methods in the context of maxillofacial tumor diagnostics.
Conclusion: CBCT’s three-dimensional imaging capabilities provide clinicians with enhanced visualization of odontogenic tumor characteristics, aiding in accurate lesion localization, differentiation of tumor types, and treatment planning. CBCT is particularly useful for assessing the internal structure and peripheral boundaries of odontogenic tumors, improving the ability to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. However, its limitations in soft tissue resolution underscore the continued importance of CT and MRI in comprehensive maxillofacial imaging.

References

Hashimoto Y, Matsushige T, Ogawa T, et al. Impact of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Angiography on Visualization of Sylvian Veins. World Neurosurg 2020;143.
Bornstein MM, Scarfe WC, Vaughn VM, Jacobs R. Cone beam computed tomography in implant dentistry: a systematic review focusing on guidelines, indications, and radiation dose risks. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2014;29 Suppl:55-77.
Adibi S, Zhang W, Servos T, O'Neill PN. Cone beam computed tomography in dentistry: what dental educators and learners should know. J Dent Educ 2012;76(11):1437-42.
Vered M, Wright JM. Update from the 5th Edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Head and Neck Tumors: Odontogenic and Maxillofacial Bone Tumours. Head Neck Pathol 2022;16(1):63–75.
Soluk-Tekkesin M, Wright JM. The World Health Organization Classification of Odontogenic Lesions: A Summary of the Changes of the 2022 (5th) Edition. Turk Patoloji Derg 2022;38(2):168–84.
Pauwels R, Araki K, Siewerdsen JH, Thongvigitmanee SS. Technical aspects of dental CBCT: state of the art. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 2015;44(1):20140224.
Labib A, Adlard RE. Odontogenic Tumors of the Jaws. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
Escobar E, Gómez-Valenzuela F, Peñafiel C, Ortega-Pinto A. Odontogenic tumours in a Chilean population: a retrospective study of 544 cases based on 2022 WHO classification. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal 2023;28(6).
Soluk-Tekkesin M, Cakarer S, Aksakalli N, Alatli C, Olgac V. New World Health Organization classification of odontogenic tumours: impact on the prevalence of odontogenic tumours and analysis of 1231 cases from Turkey. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2020;58(8):1017–22.
Kokubun K, Yamamoto K, Nakajima K, et al. Frequency of Odontogenic Tumors: A Single Center Study of 1089 Cases in Japan and Literature Review. Head Neck Pathol 2022;16(2):494–502.
Luo J, You M, Zheng G, Xu L. Cone beam computed tomography signs of desmoplastic ameloblastoma: review of 7 cases. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2014;118(4)–e133.
Rayamajhi S, Shrestha S, Shakya S, et al. Unicystic Ameloblastoma of Mandible: A Case Report. JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc 2022;60(251):657-60.
Alarjani MM. An Unusual Case Report of Unicystic Ameloblastoma of the Mandible. J Pharm Bioallied Sci 2024;16(Suppl 1).
Baba A, Ojiri H, Minami M, et al. Desmoplastic ameloblastoma of the jaw: CT and MR imaging findings. Oral Radiol 2020;36(1):100-6.
Minami M, Kaneda T, Ozawa K, et al. Cystic lesions of the maxillomandibular region: MR imaging distinction of odontogenic keratocysts and ameloblastomas from other cysts. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1996;166(4):943-9.
Hisatomi M, Yanagi Y, Konouchi H, et al. Diagnostic value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for unilocular cystic-type ameloblastomas with homogeneously bright high signal intensity on T2-weighted or STIR MR images. Oral Oncol 2011;47(2):147-52.
Kobayashi TY, Gurgel CV, Cota AL, et al. The usefulness of cone beam computed tomography for treatment of complex odontoma. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 2013;14(3):185-9.
Isler SC, Demircan S, Soluk M, Cebi Z. Radiologic evaluation of an unusually sized complex odontoma involving the maxillary sinus by cone beam computed tomography. Quintessence Int 2009;40(7):533-5.
Bayramoglu Z, Miloglu O, Yozgat Ilbas F. The findings of impacted and transmigrated maxillary and mandibular canines: a retrospective cone beam computed tomography study. Minerva Dent Oral Sci 2023;72(2):90-8.
Alhazmi YA. The Enigma Unveiled: Expansile Compound-complex Odontoma in the Anterior Maxilla of a Teenager. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(1):82-5.
Preetha A, Balikai BS, Sujatha D, Pai A, Ganapathy KS. Complex odontoma. Gen Dent 2010;58(3)
Khalifa C, Omami M, Garma M, et al. Compound-complex odontoma: A rare case report. Clin Case Rep 2022;10(4).
Trode H, Pouget C, Talbi M, Simon E, Brix M. Surgical management of odontogenic myxomas: A case series. Int J Surg Case Rep 2023;112:108945.
Kharbouch J, Aziz Z, Benzenzoum Z, et al. Maxillary and mandibular odontogenic myxomas: case report. Pan Afr Med J 2022;42:103.
Chrcanovic BR, Gomez RS. Odontogenic myxoma: An updated analysis of 1,692 cases reported in the literature. Oral Dis 2019;25(3):676–83.
Almazyad A, Alamro M, Almadan N, et al. Frequency and Demographic Analysis of Odontogenic Tumors in Three Tertiary Institutions: An 11-Year Retrospective Study. Diagnostics 2024;14(9):910.
Osman S, Hamouda GM, Eltohami YI. Clinical Spectrum and Treatment of Odontogenic Myxoma: Analysis of 37 Cases. J Maxillofac Oral Surg 2024;23(2):301–7.
Ortiz AFH, Almarie B, Murcia ND, Farhane MA. Odontogenic myxoma: A case report of a rare tumor. Radiol Case Rep 2023;18(11):4130–3.
Akkitap P, Gümrü B, Tarçın B, İdman E. Odontogenic myxoma: Clinical and radiographic characteristics of two cases. Eur J Res Dent 2020;4(2):75–80.
Hisatomi M, Asaumi J, Konouchi H, et al. Comparison of radiographic and MRI features of a root-diverging odontogenic myxoma, with discussion of the differential diagnosis of lesions likely to move roots. Oral Dis 2003;9(3):152-7.
Asaumi J, Matsuzaki H, Hisatomi M, et al. Application of dynamic MRI to differentiating odontogenic myxomas from ameloblastomas. Eur J Radiol 2002;43(1):37-41.
Vidales-Miranda R, Fiori-Chíncaro GA, Agudelo-Botero AM, Llaguno-Rubio JM. Uso de herramientas de imagenología actual para el estudio del mixoma odontogénico. Rev Cient Odontol 2022;10(2).
Abdul-Aziz MAM, Rashad AEE, Saleh HA. Malignant Recurrence of Benign Odontogenic Tumors (A Single Center Cross-Sectional Study). Head Neck Pathol 2024;18(1):76.
Nguyen BD. Malignant ameloblastoma with thoracic vertebral metastasis: PET/CT and MR imaging. Clin Nucl Med 2005;30(6):450–2.
Seno S, Kitajima K, Inokuchi G, et al. FDG-PET findings of Ameloblastoma: a case report. SpringerPlus 2015;4:250.
Berger AJ, Son J, Desai NK. Malignant ameloblastoma concurrent presentation of primary and distant disease and review of the literature. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2012;70(10):2316–26.
Senra GS, Pereira AC, dos Santos LM, Carvalho YR, Brandão AA. Malignant ameloblastoma metastasis to the lung: a case report. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2008;105(2)–e46.
Papaioannou M, Manika K, Tsaoussis B, et al. Ameloblastoma of the mandible with pulmonary metastases 45 years after initial diagnosis. Respirology 2009;14(8):1208–11.
Tada K, Murakami S, Inoue T, et al. Pulmonary metastases from ameloblastoma: a case report. Nihon Naika Gakkai Zasshi 1998;87(7):1376–8.
Luo DY, Feng CJ, Guo JB. Pulmonary metastases from an ameloblastoma: case report and review of the literature. J Craniomaxillofac Surg 2012;40(8)–e474.
Georgakas I, Lazaridou M, Dimitrakopoulos I, et al. Pulmonary metastasis in a 65-year-old man with mandibular ameloblastoma: a case report and review of the literature. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2012;70(5):1109–13.
Morgan RE, Fiske-Jackson AR, Hellige M, Gerhauser I, Wohlsein P, Biggi M. Equine odontogenic tumors: Clinical presentation, CT findings, and outcome in 11 horses. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2019;60(5):502-12.
Kaneda T, Minami M, Kurabayashi T. Benign odontogenic tumors of the mandible and maxilla. Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 2003;13(3):495-507.
Published
2025-02-05
How to Cite
ÖÇBE, Melisa. Cone-Beam CT, CT and MRI for odontogenic tumors: a narrative review of imaging characteristics. Jurnal Radiologi Dentomaksilofasial Indonesia (JRDI), [S.l.], v. 8, n. 3, p. 141-146, feb. 2025. ISSN 2686-1321. Available at: <http://jurnal.pdgi.or.id/index.php/jrdi/article/view/1284>. Date accessed: 22 feb. 2025. doi: https://doi.org/10.32793/jrdi.v8i3.1284.

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Obs.: This plugin requires at least one statistics/report plugin to be enabled. If your statistics plugins provide more than one metric then please also select a main metric on the admin's site settings page and/or on the journal manager's settings pages.