title: Correlation of radiographic size and the presence of radiopaque lamina with histological findings in 70 periapical lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to relate the histological diagnosis of chronic inflammatory periapical lesions with the radiographic images of these lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 70 biopsy specimens obtained during periapical surgery were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and examined under a microscope. Histological analysis established the diagnosis as granuloma, cyst, or scar tissue. The location of the lesion was recorded, as were the radiographic size (maximum and minimum diameter in mm and area in mm(2)) and the presence of radiopaque lamina around the lesion, using an image analyzing system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of the biopsy specimens was 65.7% granulomas, 25.7% scar tissue, and 8.6% cysts, 1 of which was a keratocyst. The largest lesions were cysts and epithelialized granulomas, with statistically significant differences. Radiopaque lamina was observed around 9 lesions; of these, only 2 were histologically diagnosed as cysts, with the rest as granulomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the apical lesions were granulomas. Cysts had the largest radiotransparent images; however, in the 70 cases studied, neither the radiographic size nor the presence of associated radiopaque lamina alone was sufficient to determine the type of lesion. Histological analysis is required.
authors.affiliation: Valencia University Medical and Dental School, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Penarrocha
authors.forename: Bárbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martí
authors.forename: José Vicente
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Bagán
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008439:Maxillary Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D010484:Periapical Granuloma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010486:Periapical Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011842:Radicular Cyst / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic