Contribution of cone-beam computed tomography to the evaluation of lesions resulting from multiple myeloma and to the early diagnosis of the disease: A scoping review.

PURPOSE: To analyze the available evidence regarding the contribution of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to the evaluation of osteolytic lesions resulting from multiple myeloma (MM) and to the early diagnosis of the disease.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Embase, LILACS, Google Scholar, and OpenGrey through November 2025, without restrictions on language or publication date. Studies that identified or described MM-related lesions using CBCT were included, whereas those involving patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws were excluded.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria, including 11 case reports, 2 case series, and 4 cross-sectional studies. In most case reports (9 studies), the initial clinical suspicion arose from oral alterations and/or the identification of osteolytic lesions on CBCT, prompting medical referral. The mandible was the most frequently affected site (13 studies). Various tomographic patterns were described, most commonly extensive lesions with irregular contours and ill-defined margins (10 studies) and punched-out lesions (5 studies).

CONCLUSION

CBCT demonstrates potential as a valuable tool for the early identification and characterization of MM-related lesions in the head and neck region. However, the available literature remains limited and is predominantly composed of isolated case reports, indicating a substantial knowledge gap. These findings underscore the need for further research and for the training of dental professionals-particularly radiologists-to adopt a more sensitive and multidisciplinary diagnostic approach.