• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2010

This report was to show the radiographic appearances of the fungus ball in a paranasal sinus and to emphasize the scan area of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to detect the calcification in the paranasal sinus. A seventyfour-year-old woman visited our department for the implant rehabilitation at both maxillary posterior edentulous region. Pre-operative radiographic examinations including the panoramic, CBCT, and multidector CT images were taken. An opacification in the right maxillary sinus was observed on the multiplanar image of CBCT, however the pre-determined scan area of CBCT in this report hardly showed the calcifications at the central portion of the maxillary sinus. The opacification in the maxillary sinus could be misdiagnosed as chronic maxillary sinusitis if the calcification of fungus ball was not simultaneously detected. The scan area of pre-operative CBCT needs to be enough to scan the paranasal sinus from top to bottom.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.209-212
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• 2009

Bifid mandibular canal can be an anatomic variation. This condition can lead to complication when performing mandibular anesthesia or during extraction of lower third molar, placement of implants and surgery in the mandible. Four patients underwent preoperative imaging for extraction of third molars using CBCT (CB Mercuray, Hitachi, Japan). The axial images were processed with CBworks program 2.1 (CyberMed Inc., Seoul, Korea). The branches for supplying the lower third molar were identified mainly on cross-sectional and panoramic images of CBCT. Since the location and configuration of mandibular canal variations are important in any mandibular surgical procedures, we report 4 cases of bifid mandibular canal with panoramic and the CBCT images.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.191-194
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of sinus opacification among adult dental patients. Materials and Methods : Five hundred and sixty-four Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans of dental patients over the age of 18 were reviewed for sinus opacification. Opacification was graded as clear, mild, moderate or severe. Patients with any sinus-related signs or symptoms were excluded. Results : Sinus opacification in one or more sinuses was found in 59.2% of the patients. The sinus opacification was mild in 49.8%, moderate in 8.3%, and severe in 1.1%. The maxillary (37.7%) and ethmoid (37.4%) sinuses were most frequently affected. The prevalence was higher in the older age group and showed a male predomination (p<0.05). Conclusion : Sinus opacification in asymptomatic adults is very common and emphasizes the importance of clinical correlation before deciding on the final diagnosis and treatment.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.181-185
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• 2015

Numerous cases of enamel renal syndrome have been previously reported. Various terms, such as enamel renal syndrome, amelogenesis imperfecta and gingival fibromatosis syndrome, and enamel-renal-gingival syndrome, have been used for patients presenting with the dental phenotype characteristic of this condition, nephrocalcinosis or nephrolithiasis, and gingival findings. This report describes a case of amelogenesis imperfecta of the enamel agenesis variety with nephrolithiasis in a 21-year-old male patient who complained of small teeth. The imaging modalities employed were conventional radiography, cone-beam computed tomography, and renal sonography. Such cases are first encountered by dentists, as other organ or metabolic diseases are generally hidden. Hence, cases of amelogenesis imperfecta should be subjected to advanced diagnostic modalities, incorporating both dental and medical criteria, in order to facilitate comprehensive long-term management.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.333-336
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• 2021

Rhinoliths are foreign bodies composed of mineralised deposits in the nasal cavity that are rarely encountered in routine dental practice. The current report presents a case of a 77-year-old female patient who visited a dental treatment centre for a routine dental check-up and prophylaxis. On the clinical examination, the patient did not report any breathing difficulty, nasal obstruction, or any form of discharge. Panoramic radiography showed a horizontally magnified radiopaque structure in the right nasal fossa region. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) revealed a hyperdense entity with a laminated presentation in the right nasal fossa. The hyperdense entity was diagnosed as a rhinolith based on the radiographic findings. Although the patient was asymptomatic, a referral was made to an ear, nose, and throat surgeon for a further evaluation. This report highlights the importance of CBCT imaging in the diagnosis of soft-tissue calcifications.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.251-256
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• 2019

Jugular bulb diverticulum is an irregular extension of the jugular bulb into the temporal bone that may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. The jugular bulb has rarely been reported to extend into the occipital condyle; such extension is termed a condylar jugular diverticulum and is characterized as a defect in the occipital condyle contiguous with the jugular bulb. This report details 3 cases of condylar jugular diverticulum. Extension of the jugular bulb into the ipsilateral occipital condyle was noted as an incidental finding on cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images of 3 patients. All 3 patients were asymptomatic, and this finding was unrelated to the initial area of interest. CBCT use is becoming ubiquitous in dentistry, as it allows 3-dimensional evaluation, unlike conventional radiography. Proper interpretation of the entire CBCT is essential, and recognition of the indicators of condylar jugular diverticulum may prevent misdiagnosis of this rare entity.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.353-357
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• 2020

The canalis sinuosus (CS) and its accessory canals (ACs) are anatomical structures in the anterior maxilla. These structures are often neglected when planning implant surgery because their clinical significance is still not well-defined. After a retrospective evaluation of 194 patients rehabilitated with dental implants in the anterior maxilla, 3 patients were identified who presented unexpected chronic neurosensory disturbances without any clinical signs supportive of implant failure. Tomographic assessment using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) revealed the invasion of the CS and ACs by dental implants, which appeared to explain the patients' symptoms. The purpose of this report was to familiarize practicing dentists and specialists with the CS and its ACs. Unanticipated neurosensory symptoms after implant placement in the anterior maxilla justify the use of CBCT to rule out an injury to this neurovascular bundle.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.377-384
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• 2020

This report presents 2 cases of sinus fungus ball and describes the characteristic radiographic features of fungus ball in the maxillary sinus. Two female patients, aged 62 and 40 years, sought consultations at a dental hospital for the treatment of dental implants and tooth pain, respectively. Panoramic radiography and small field-of-view(FOV) cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) did not provide detailed information for the radiographic diagnosis of fungus ball due to the limited images of the maxillary sinus. Additional paranasal sinus computed tomographic images showed the characteristic features of fungus ball, such as heterogeneous opacification and intralesional calcification of the maxillary sinus. The calcified materials of the fungus balls were located in the middle and superior regions of the maxillary sinus. It is necessary to use large-FOV CBCT for the detection of calcified materials in the upper maxillary sinus to confirm the diagnosis of fungus ball.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.347-351
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• 2020

Mastoid osteomas of the temporal bone are rare, benign, and usually asymptomatic tumors. However, depending on their size and extension, mastoid osteomas may cause facial palsy, a sensation of ear fullness, pressure-related pain, hearing loss, recurrent external ear infections, and chronic discharge. The etiology of mastoid osteomas is still unknown, but congenital, infectious, and traumatic factors have been proposed. Surgical treatment may be performed with minimal postoperative morbidity. In this article, the authors report a case of a 48-year-old woman seeking orthodontic treatment with an unusual retroauricular protruding mass, including the diagnostic process and differential diagnosis. This case supports the essential role of cone-beam computed tomography to analyze and identify the lesion as a mastoid osteoma.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.195-201
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• 2021

Unusual radiographic findings of intraosseous ameloblastoma have been reported and discussed. In the case discussed herein, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) clearly showed many radiographic features that were ambiguous on conventional radiographs, including an ill-defined periphery, extensive superficial buccal extension with minimal lingual extension, obvious bucco-crestal expansion, and multiple triangular (Codman's triangle-like) areas of periosteal reaction. Based on the above-mentioned findings, the differential diagnosis was a long-term infected benign or low-grade malignant lesion. An incisional biopsy was performed, and the histopathologic diagnosis was acanthomatous ameloblastoma. Recurrence of the lesion was clearly detected on CBCT images at 4 and 8 years after surgery. These unusual radiographic findings have never been reported to be associated with ameloblastoma, and thus may contribute to novel concepts in radiographic interpretation in the future. This report also underscores the important role played by CBCT as a comprehensive diagnostic tool and for definite confirmation of recurrence.