Correlating multi-detected computed tomography findings with conventional radiography, operative and histopathological examination in mandibular swellings

Introduction: Mandibular swelling are common entity in dental and general surgery practice requiring prompt intervention, imaging techniques such as plain radiography and especially multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) which offer the potential to improve the outcome buy increasing the accuracy of diagnosis. Materials and methods: In the present study, 30 patients with clinically diagnosed mandibular swelling were evaluated with conventional radiography; MDCT and HPE wherever performed to establish the value of MDCT and to evaluate the role of MDCT in establishing the diagnosis. Results: In the present study, majority of the cases were in the age group of 21-30 years with an male: female ratio of 1:1.5. Most commonly found lesions were odontogenic lesions (27 out of 30 cases) accounting about 90% of all the mandibular swellings. Among the odontogenic lesions ameloblastomas was the most common diagnosis followed by odontogenic keratocyst constituting 48%and 29% respectively in the present study, unilocular ameloblastoma were more common than multiocular ameloblastomas i.e. 7 out 13 cases (53.85%) among non-odontogenic lesions, central ossifying fibroma was the common diagnosis i.e. 2 out of 3 cases (67%) in the present study, being lesions were common than malignant i.e. 28 out of 30 cases (93.3%) and 2 out of 30 cases (06.66%) were malignant. Conclusions: MDCT provided excellent visualization and delineation of mandibular anatomy when compared to plain radiography. MDCT images ideal for pre-operative evaluation as they provide thin sections (