CT OF CYSTIC JAW LESIONS

Objective: Our goal was to compare the efficacy of CT with that of pla in film radiography (PFR) in analyzing the three-dimensional shape and structure of cystic jaw lesions. Materials and Methods: Twenty patien ts with cystic lesion of the jaw were studied by PFR and CT. The three -dimensional outline of the cyst and the distances between the cyst wa ll and adjacent vital teeth, cortical jaw bone, maxillary sinus, and m andibular canal were estimated on PFR and on CT scans. Results: Comput ed tomography was superior to PFR in the demonstration of the three-di mensional bony margins of the cyst and in determination of its proximi ty to adjacent vital structures (p < 0.01, sign test). Conclusion: App lication of CT is useful for diagnosis and treatment planning of cysti c lesions of the jaws.