title: Cemento-osseous dysplasia of the jaw bones: key radiographic features.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to assess possible diagnostic differences between general dentists (GPs) and oral and maxillofacial radiologists (RGs) in the identification of pathognomonic radiographic features of cemento-osseous dysplasia (COD) and its interpretation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a systematic objective survey instrument, 3 RGs and 3 GPs reviewed 50 image sets of COD and similarly appearing entities (dense bone island, cementoblastoma, cemento-ossifying fibroma, fibrous dysplasia, complex odontoma and sclerosing osteitis). Participants were asked to identify the presence or absence of radiographic features and then to make an interpretation of the images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RGs identified a well-defined border (odds ratio (OR) 6.67, P < 0.05); radiolucent periphery (OR 8.28, P < 0.005); bilateral occurrence (OR 10.23, P < 0.01); mixed radiolucent/radiopaque internal structure (OR 10.53, P < 0.01); the absence of non-concentric bony expansion (OR 7.63, P < 0.05); and the association with anterior and posterior teeth (OR 4.43, P < 0.05) as key features of COD. Consequently, RGs were able to correctly interpret 79.3% of COD cases. In contrast, GPs identified the absence of root resorption (OR 4.52, P < 0.05) and the association with anterior and posterior teeth (OR 3.22, P = 0.005) as the only key features of COD and were able to correctly interpret 38.7% of COD cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are statistically significant differences between RGs and GPs in the identification and interpretation of the radiographic features associated with COD (P < 0.001). We conclude that COD is radiographically discernable from other similarly appearing entities only if the characteristic radiographic features are correctly identified and then correctly interpreted.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Toronto, 124 Edward Street, Toronto, ON M5G 1G6, Canada.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Alsufyani
authors.forename: E W N
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002485:Cementoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005357:Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016015:Logistic Models; D015588:Observer Variation; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D011871:Radiology