Tumors and tumor-like lesions of the jaw: radiolucent lesions.
Radiolucent lesions within the jaws represent a whole variety of lesions. Generally, they can be classified into two categories. The first category comprises well circumscribed lesions, either unilocular, multilobular or multilocular. They may be further subdivided into odontogenic or nonodontogenic lesions. The key feature that distinguishes these two subgroups is the relationship with the underlying dentition. Poorly circumscribed radiolucent lesions are the second category and consist of acute infectious disease and primary or metastatic malignancies. Although many of these lesions may present with non-specific imaging characteristics, careful analysis of a combination of imaging parameters may suggest a presumptive diagnosis. This article discusses the imaging features on different imaging techniques that may be useful in the characterization of these lesions.
Bernaerts
A
A
Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen (University of Antwerp), Wilrijkstraat 10, B-2650 Edegem, Belgium.
Vanhoenacker
F M
FM
Hintjens
J
J
Chapelle
K
K
Salgado
R
R
De Foer
B
B
De Schepper
A M
AM
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed