The value of computerized tomography in oral surgery.
Computerized tomography is known to be of value in the assessment of malignant tumors of the head and neck. In addition, it can be helpful in the diagnosis of maxillofacial injuries, especially of the midface, and blowout fractures of the orbital walls. The present article reviews its possible role in the management of patients with expanding and infiltrating lesions of the jaws. An important feature of the technique is that soft tissues can be clearly demarcated from the surrounding structures. In addition, views are possible in both axial and coronal planes. Since 1977, CT has been employed in more than twenty patients with benign or locally invasive jaw lesions and has demonstrated a high degree of accuracy. However, a much larger series is necessary to assess the reliability of the technique and to define its role in the preoperative investigation of patients with this type of problem.
D002648:Child; D005350:Fibroma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010016:Osteoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed