Usefulness of contrast enhanced-MRI in the diagnosis of unicystic ameloblastoma.
The radiographic features of unicystic ameloblastoma (UA) are typically unilocular and round area of radiolucency. Therefore, this type of lesion is often misdiagnosed as an odontogenic keratocyst or a dentigerous cyst. UA should be differentiated from odontogenic cysts because the former have a higher rate of recurrence than the latter. In the present study, we performed contrast enhanced-MRI (CE-MRI) to diagnose 13 cases of unilocular, round radiolucent lesions visualized on panoramic radiograph and/or CT. In the cases of UA, low signal intensity was observed on T1-weighted images (WIs), and a markedly high signal intensity was observed on T2-WIs; moreover, relatively thick rim-enhancement with/without small intraluminal nodules was observed upon CE-T1WIs. CE-MRI was considered useful in the diagnosis of UA, as characteristic features of this type of lesion i.e., thick enhancement of the tumor wall and small intraluminal nodules were detected only by CE-MRI in the present study.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Field of Tumor Biology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Japan.
Hironobu
H
Konouchi
Jun-ichi
J
Asaumi
Yoshinobu
Y
Yanagi
Miki
M
Hisatomi
Noriko
N
Kawai
Hidenobu
H
Matsuzaki
Kanji
K
Kishi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media