Descriptive Terminology

• 1 compartment

• Tend to be small and nonexpansile

• Borders may appear corticated or noncorticated on image

Unilocular Radiolucent lesions

Unilocular lesion, __________ borders

• Lesion exibits a thin, well demarcated radiopaque rim of bone at periphery

• Usually indicative of a benign, slow growing process

Corticated

Unilocular lesion, _____________ Borders

• Lesion does not exhibit thin radiopaque rim of bone at periphery

• Periphery appears fuzzy or poorly defined

• May represent either a benign or a malignant process

Noncorticated

• Exhibits multiple radiolucent compartments

• frequently expansile (grows)

• Typically benign lesions with aggressive growth potential

Multilocular radiolucent lesions

Types of Locations of Radiolucent Lesions:

-Lesion located around apex of tooth

Periapical location

What is an example of a radiolucent lesion that has a periapical location?

Pulpal cyst secondary (caused by) to pulpal necrosis

Types of Locations of Radiolucent Lesions:

• Lesion located between roots of adjacent teeth

Inter-radicular Location

What is an example of a radiolucent lesion that has an Inter-radicular location?

Lateral periodontal cyst

Types of Locations of Radiolucent Lesions:

• Lesion located in an area without teeth

• Variety of radiolucent lesions may occur in this type of zone

Edentulous Zone

Types of Locations of Radiolucent Lesions:

• Radiolucent lesion located around crown of an impacted tooth

Pericoronal Location

What is an example of a radiolucent lesion with a Pericoronal location?

Dentigerous cyst

Types of Locations of Radiolucent Lesions:

Loss of bone in maxilla or mandible that surrounds and supports teeth

• Appears radiolucent

Alveolar Bone Loss

What are three terms used to describe radiopaque lesions?

• Appearance

• Location

• Size

Appearance of Radiopaque Lesions:

Well-defined, localized radiopaque lesions on an image

Focal Opacity

What is an example of a radipaque lesion described by Focal Opacity?

Condensing Osteitis

Appearance of Radiopaque Lesions:

• Well-defined, localized radiopaque area surrounded by a uniform radiolucent halo

Target Lesion

What is an example of a radiopaque lesion that is described as a Target Lesion?

Benign cementoblastoma

Appearance of Radiopaque Lesions:

• Multiple radiopacities appear to overlap or flow together

  • This description of a lesion that involve multiple quadrants of jaws usually represent benign fibro-osseous disorders

Multifocal Confluent Pattern

What is an example of a radiopaque lesion that has a Multifocal Confluent Pattern?

Oseitis deformans, florid osseous dysplasia

Appearance of Radiopaque Lesions:

• Radiopacity may exhibit an irregular, poorly defined pattern

  • It may represent a malignant condition

Irregular/Ill-defined Opacity

What is an example of a radiopaque lesion with an Irregular/Ill-defined Opacity?

Osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma

Appearance of Radiopaque Lesions:

• Granular pebbled radiopacity resembling pulverized glass

  • Often said to resemble appearance or texture of an orange peel

Ground Glass Opacity

What is an example of a radiopaque lesion with Ground Glass Opacity?

Fibrous dysplasia, Osteitis deformans, Osteopetrosis

Appearance of Radiopaque Lesions:

• Exhibits both a radopaque and a radiolucent component

  • Often represents calcifying tumors

Mixed Lucent-Opaque Lesion

What is an example of a radiopaque lesion that can be described as Mixed Lucent-Opaque?

Compound odontoma

Appearance of Radiopaque Lesions:

• Appears as well-defined, radiopaque area located in soft tissue

Soft Tissue Opacity

What is an example of a radiopaque lesion that has Soft Tissue Opacity?

Sialolith, Calcified lymph node

Locations of Radiopaque Lesions:

• Radiopaque lesion located around apex of a tooth

Periapical Location

What is an example of a radiopaque lesion that has a Periapical Location?

Benign cememtoblastoma

Appearance of Radiopaque Lesions:

• Radiopaque lesion between roots of adjacent teeth

Inter-radicular Location

What is an example of a radiopaque lesion that has an Inter-radicular Location?

Sclerotic Bone

Appearance of Radiopaque Lesions:

• Radiopaque lesion located in an area without teeth

Edentulous Zone

What is an example of a radiopaque lesion in an edentulous zone?

Complex Odontoma

Appearance of Radiopaque Lesions:

• Radiopaque lesion located around crown of an impacted tooth

Pericoronal Location

What is an example of a radiopaque lesion with a pericoronal location?

Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor

What can the size of both radiolucent and radiopaque lesions be?

several millimeters to several centimeters in diameter