Diagnosing periapical lesions--disagreement and borderline cases.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper is to present a selection of disagreement and borderline cases from a methodological study on the radiographic diagnosis of periapical disease.


METHODS
Thirty-two roots, 12% of the material in an earlier study, were subjected to joint discussion because of diagnostic problems. The aim was consensus. Six cases representing different teeth/roots illustrating typical problems are presented.


RESULTS
The varying morphology of apical areas and varying density of surrounding bone present a number of challenges. Even so, the joint discussion resulted in an agreement for all the cases. Twenty-five diagnoses were established and seven cases were not diagnosed owing to substandard radiographs.


CONCLUSIONS
A detailed analysis of the periodontal ligament space, the lamina dura, trabecular pattern and bone marrow spaces is mandatory for the radiographic diagnosis of periapical disease
Halse
A
A
Section of Oral Radiology, School of Dentistry, University of Bergen, Norway. agnar.halse@odont.uib.no
Molven
O
O
Fristad
I
I
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D032921:Consensus; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017823:Furcation Defects / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D010000:Osteitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography