title: Relationships between third-molar juxta-apical radiolucencies and mandibular canals in panoramic and cone beam computed tomography images.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the relationship between third-molar juxta-apical radiolucencies and mandibular canals on panoramic and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients were included in this retrospective study. The root apices and the relationships of the juxta-apical radiolucencies to the mandibular canals were evaluated on both panoramic and CBCT images. The McNemar test (P < .05) was used to compare panoramic with CBCT findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Root apices were visualized clearly with CBCT in most cases for which the apices were not seen clearly on panoramic images. Similarly, juxta-apical radiolucencies were separate from the mandibular canals with CBCT in most cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study found that there is no consistent intimate relationship between juxta-apical radiolucencies and the mandibular canals. Similar studies with larger sample sizes are required to further confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Showa University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: rishabh.kapila@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rishabh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kapila
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Showa University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Nana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Showa University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Showa University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.affiliation: Oral Radiology, Oral Diagnosis & Polyclinics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Tazuko K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Goto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*