title: A study of periapical lesions correlating the presence of a radiopaque lamina with histological findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the presence or absence of a radiopaque lamina of 60 human periapical lesions with the histological findings from a case study in dental practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paralleling radiographs were taken of 60 teeth with periapical radiolucencies. The periapical radiographs were scanned, and standardized images were evaluated on a computer screen for the presence or absence of a radiopaque lamina by 2 calibrated observers according to agreed criteria. The serially sectioned histological specimens were obtained from the extraction of 13 endodontically treated teeth and 27 nontreated teeth, as well as 20 post-treatment teeth with apical periodontitis removed during periapical surgical procedure; the specimens were classified according to agreed criteria. The findings of the 2 evaluations were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 57 electronic images that could be interpreted, 10 lesions had a radiopaque lamina, but of these only 3 were histologically diagnosed as cysts, while 7 were granulomas or abscesses. Out of 47 lesions without a radiopaque lamina, 40 were histologically diagnosed as granulomas or abscesses, while 7 were cysts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnosis of periapical lesions cannot be made on the basis of the presence or absence of a radiopaque lamina, but requires histological examination of serial sections.
authors.affiliation: dricucci@libero.it
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ricucci
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mannocci
authors.forename: Thomas R Pitt
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Ford
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D010484:Periapical Granuloma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011842:Radicular Cyst / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital