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Do Something or Do Nothing? Anatomical Variants and Incidental Findings on Cone Beam CT. Part 2: Beyond the Dento-alveolar Complex and Neighbouring Structures
Do Something or Do Nothing? Anatomical Variants and Incidental Findings on Cone Beam CT. Part 2: Beyond the Dento-alveolar Complex and Neighbouring Structures Jimmy Makdissi Amanda Loughlin Ashok Adams Mohammed M Dungarwalla Dental Update 2024 49:3, 707-709.
Authors
JimmyMakdissi
DDS, MMedSc, FDS RCS(Eng), DDRRCR, FHEA
Clinical Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant, Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology, Institute of Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, The Royal London Dental Hospital; Clinical Director, JM Radiology CBCT Training
Specialist in Oral Surgery, Institute of Dentistry, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Royal London Hospital
Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a popular and often indispensable imaging modality used for the dento-alveolar tissues and immediate surrounding structures. It can be used across several dental disciplines including endodontics, implant planning, oral surgery and orthodontics. Furthermore, it is commonly used in the medical specialties of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) and ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery. In part 1 of this series, we described some of the common incidental findings found in the dento-alveolar complex and immediate neighbouring structures. Part 2 looks further afield and depicts some common and important incidental findings and anatomical variants that can be found on larger fields of view.
CPD/Clinical Relevance: Many incidental findings are innocuous, yet their recognition and documentation are essential because some will warrant medical or surgical intervention.
Article
In Part 1 of this series,1 the authors illustrated some of the more common incidental findings and anatomical variants found on smaller cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) volumes. Part 2 of this series focuses on the structures beyond the dento-alveolar tissues and the immediate surrounding structures. It also includes some of the less common incidental findings and variants that deserve mention due to their proposed management.
Importantly, some of the findings presented may be beyond the scope for interpretation of the dental practitioner, and onward referral of images for a specialist opinion may be required. Structures potentially included in the imaging field of view include the temporomandibular joints, major salivary glands, cervical spine, skull base, neck ligaments and vasculature. As in Part 1, the entities are presented alphabetically.
Category: incidental finding.
Frequency: uncommon.
Symptoms: may be asymptomatic or non-specific nasal stuffiness, excess mucous production, throat-clearing and epistaxis.
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