title: Incidental findings in the maxillofacial region detected by cone beam CT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the location, nature, and occurrence of incidental maxillofacial findings on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans performed for maxillofacial diagnostic purposes.
  
  
  METHODS
  CBCT images of 207 consecutive patients (129 females and 78 males) were examined. The sample consisted of 85 temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder patients, 45 paranasal sinusitis patients, 30 obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients, 15 implant patients, and 32 others.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall rate of incidental findings was 92.8%. The highest rate of incidental findings was in the airway area (51.8%), followed by impacted teeth (21.7%), TMJ findings (11.1%), endodontic lesions (4.3%), condensing osteitis (1%), and others (2.9%). The airway incidental findings included mucosal thickening (21.3%), deviation of the nasal septum (12.6%), conchal hypertrophy (11.1%), bullous concha (3.9%), and retention cysts (2.9%). The impacted teeth consisted of third molars (18.8%) and canines (2.9%). The incidental findings for the TMJ patients were erosion of the condyle (4.8%), osteophytes (3.4%), and bifid condyle (2.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral radiologists should be aware of possible incidental findings and should be vigilant about comprehensively evaluating possible underlying diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey. facagla@gmail.com
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cağlayan
authors.forename: Ummühan
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tozoğlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D015994:Incidence; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000002:abnormalities; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging