Midfacial fractures in dental panoramic radiography.
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the ability of panoramic radiographs to demonstrate facial fractures. Radiographs of eighty-two patients were analyzed retrospectively in cases in which both panoramic and conventional skull radiographs were available. One hundred thirty fractures within the middle third of the facial skeleton were identified, excluding nasal and mandibular fractures. In 64 per cent of the cases structural alterations suggesting fracture were detectable on panoramic radiographs; however, the interpretation of fractures on panoramic radiographs was much less certain than on conventional skull radiographs. The use of panoramic radiographs alone was often inadequate for diagnosis of many fractures outside the mandible.
D005147:Facial Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D007572:Jaw Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray