IDIOPATHIC OSTEOSCLEROSIS OF THE JAWS - PANORAMIC RADIOGRAPHIC AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC FINDINGS

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency an d anatomic location of idiopathic osteosclerosis in the jawbones and t o present computed tomographic findings of this lesion in Japanese pat ients. Study design. Panoramic radiographs of 1047 patients were exami ned for the presence of idiopathic osteosclerosis in the jawbones. Com puted tomography was performed in 11 patients of this series. Results. A total of 64 patients (6.1%) showed this radiopacity. The highest oc currence was in the mandibular first molar region. There was no statis tically significant difference in the prevalence of idiopathic osteosc lerosis between males and females. On computed tomography images, thes e radiopaque areas were divisible into two types: enostosis (five case s) and central sclerosis (six cases). Conclusion. This is the first re port of computed tomographic findings on idiopathic osteosclerosis in the jawbones, although the results on panoramic radiographs are simila r to other investigators.