Imaging of mandibular cysts with a dental computed tomography software program.

Twelve mandibular cysts were examined radiographically by conventional panoramic radiography (orthopantomography (OPG)), mandibular tomography (MT), and axial computed tomography (CT). The axial CT scans were reformatted with both a conventional program and a dental CT software program that displays exactly proportional cross-sectional views. The radiographic images obtained with these four examination modalities were compared for visualization of mandibular anatomy, delineation of the mandibular canal, detection of cortical bone involvement, and cystic volume. CT and especially the dental CT program rated significantly (P < 0.001) higher in all points examined than two-dimensional methods (OPG, MT). The dental CT program was found to be superior for detecting cortical bone involvement (P < 0.02) and delineation of the mandibular canal (P < 0.02) to the conventional CT program.