title: Incidental findings from cone beam computed tomography of the maxillofacial region: a descriptive retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the type and prevalence of incidental findings from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) of the maxillofacial region. Findings are divided into those that require (i) intervention/referral, (ii) monitoring, and (iii) no further evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred consecutive CBCT scans conducted in the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Clinic from January 1 to August 31, 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Findings were categorized into airway, soft tissue calcifications, bone, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), endodontic, dental developmental, and pathological findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 272 scans revealed 881 incidental findings (3.2 findings/scan). The most prevalent was airway findings (35%) followed by soft tissue calcifications (20%), bone (17.5%), TMJ (15.4%), endodontic (11.3%), dental developmental (0.7%), and pathological (0.1%). 16.1% required intervention/referral, 15.6% required monitoring, and the remainder (68.3%) required neither.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study underscores the need to thoroughly examine all CBCT volumes for clinically significant findings within and beyond the region of interest.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Department of Diagnostic Sciences and General Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. pricej@dentistry.unc.edu
authors.forename: Jeffery B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Khin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Thaw
authors.forename: Donald A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Tyndall
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ludlow
authors.forename: Ricardo J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Padilla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012984:Software