Correlation of Radiographic Size and the Presence of Radiopaque Lamina With Histological Findings in 70 Periapical Lesions

Carrillo, Celia; Penarrocha, Miguel; Ortega, Bárbara; Martí, Eva; Bagán, José Vicente; Vera, Francisco

doi:10.1016/j.joms.2007.11.024

« Previous Next »Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Volume 66, Issue 8 , Pages 1600-1605, August 2008

Correlation of Radiographic Size and the Presence of Radiopaque Lamina With Histological Findings in 70 Periapical Lesions

Celia Carrillo, DDS
- Student of Master of Oral Surgery and Implantology, Valencia University Medical and Dental School, Valencia, Spain.
Miguel Penarrocha, PhD, DDS
- Professor of Oral Surgery and Director of the Master of Oral Surgery and Implantology, Valencia University Medical and Dental School, Valencia, Spain.
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Penarrocha: Odontology Clinic, University of Valencia, Gasc Oliag 1, 46021 Valencia, Spain
Bárbara Ortega, DDS
- Student of Master of Oral Surgery and Implantology, Valencia University Medical and Dental School, Valencia, Spain.
Eva Martí, PhD, DDS
- Private Practice, Valencia, Spain.
José Vicente Bagán, PhD, MD
- Professor of Oral Medicine, Valencia University Medical and Dental School, and Department of Stomatology, Valencia University General Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
Francisco Vera, PhD, DDS
- Professor of Pathology, Valencia University Medical and Dental School, and Chairman of Pathology II, “Le Fe” University Hospital, Valencia, Spain.

Purpose

This study was conducted to relate the histological diagnosis of chronic inflammatory periapical lesions with the radiographic images of these lesions.

Materials and Methods

A total of 70 biopsy specimens obtained during periapical surgery were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and examined under a microscope. Histological analysis established the diagnosis as granuloma, cyst, or scar tissue. The location of the lesion was recorded, as were the radiographic size (maximum and minimum diameter in mm and area in mm²) and the presence of radiopaque lamina around the lesion, using an image analyzing system.

Results

The distribution of the biopsy specimens was 65.7% granulomas, 25.7% scar tissue, and 8.6% cysts, 1 of which was a keratocyst. The largest lesions were cysts and epithelialized granulomas, with statistically significant differences. Radiopaque lamina was observed around 9 lesions; of these, only 2 were histologically diagnosed as cysts, with the rest as granulomas.

Conclusions

Most of the apical lesions were granulomas. Cysts had the largest radiotransparent images; however, in the 70 cases studied, neither the radiographic size nor the presence of associated radiopaque lamina alone was sufficient to determine the type of lesion. Histological analysis is required.