title: Imaging approach for differential diagnosis of jaw lesions: a quick reference guide.
abstract: The radiologists will be frequently consulted to evaluate a variety of maxillomandibular lesions or may incidentally encounter these lesions on routine plain films, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) studies. This article provides the reader a diagnostic approach pattern when confronted with an unknown jaw lesion. The radiologic analysis for differential diagnosis primarily depends on specific cardinal and additional radiographic criteria on plain film studies. Cardinal radiographic criteria include the density of the lesion and the location with regard to the adjacent tooth structures within the jaw. Additional criteria in the evaluation of jaw lesions are demarcation, morphological characteristics, cortical involvement, periosteal and soft tissue changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen (University of Antwerp), Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernaerts
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Vanhoenacker
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hintjens
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chapelle
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: De Schepper
mesh_terms: D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D002485:Cementoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005357:Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009631:Nonodontogenic Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis; D009810:Odontoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D010000:Osteitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed