Practical Approach to Radiopaque Jaw Lesions

Radiopaque lesions of the jaw are myriad in type and occasionally protean in appearance. In turn, the radiologic analysis of these lesions requires a systematic approach and a broad consideration of clinical and imaging characteristics to enable reliable radiologic diagnosis. Initially categorizing lesions by attenuation pattern provides a practical framework for organizing radiopaque jaw lesions that also reflects important tissue characteristics. Specifically, the appearance of radiopaque lesions can be described as (a) densely sclerotic, (b) ground glass, or (c) mixed lytic-sclerotic, with each category representing a distinct although occasionally overlapping differential diagnosis. After characterizing attenuation pattern, the appreciation of other radiologic features, such as margin characteristics or relationship to teeth, as well as clinical features including demographics and symptoms, can aid in further narrowing the differential diagnosis and lend confidence to clinical decision making. The authors review the potential causes of a radiopaque jaw lesion, including pertinent clinical and radiologic features, and outline a simplified approach to its radiologic diagnosis, with a focus on cross-sectional CT. (C) RSNA, 2021

Automated summary

Radiopaque lesions of the jaw are diverse and require a systematic approach to diagnosis. Categorizing by attenuation pattern and considering other radiologic and clinical features can help narrow down the differential diagnosis.