Background/introduction
In dentistry, Imaging is the most frequently used diagnostic tool. The easy access to medical and dental imaging has made us clinicians more accepting to requesting radiographic examinations.
This has been coupled with recent advances in medical imaging technology including software reconstruction and detector resolution.
As a result, a steady increase in the use of imaging modalities is leading to an increase in healthcare cost and an increase in patient's radiation exposure.1
Description of activity and work performed
We present a case where the use of previous imaging has aided the diagnosis and prevented unnecessary exposure to the patient.
This is a 67-year-old patient attended for a surgical removal of lower left third molar.
A sectioned panoramic radiograph (Fig.1) showed an incidental finding of a well-defined, unilocular radiolucency measuring 10x7 mm apical to the lower left second and third molars. This was partially superimposed over the outline of the ID canal. A Stafne’s bone cavity (SBC) was consideredas the most likely diagnosis 2....
Conclusion and recommendations
Previous imaging has rendered the need for any new imaging unnecessary.
This case highlights the essential role of reviewing (if in the same practice) or requesting (from a different practice) previous images.
The international Commission for Radiological Protection (ICRP) regularly publishes data relatingto the principles of dose reduction; Justification, Optimization and Limitation.
All examinations have to be justified to ensure the benefit to the patient outweigh the risk and should be optimised to ensure radiation exposures arekept as low as reasonably achievable .7
Personal/organisational information
F. Akbarian Tefaghi; London/UK - First Author at QMUL. Clinical Lecturer in Dental & Maxillofacial Radiology at Queen Mary University London.
A. Adams; London/UK - Consultant at Royal London Hospital.
J.Makdissi; London/UK - Consultant atQueen Mary University London.
References
Fazel R, Krumholz HM, Wang Y, et al. Exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation from medical imaging procedures. N Engl
J Med. 2009; 361: 849– 857.
Kopp S,Ihde S, Bienengraber V.Differential diagnosis of stafne idiopathic bone cyst with Digital Volume T omography (DVT).J Maxillofac Oral Surg. 2010; 9:80-1.
De Courten A, Küffer R, Samson J, et al . Anterior lingual mandibular salivary gland defect (Stafne defect) presenting as a residual cyst. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod .2002;94:460-4.
Stafne EC. Bone cavities situated...