Radiologic findings of diseases involving the maxilla and mandible.

The purpose of this pictorial essay is to illustrate the radiologic appearances of diseases involving the maxilla and mandible. The high prevalence of dental disease results in inflammatory, infectious, and reactive processes that must be distinguished from more serious conditions with similar radiologic features. Because of their association with odontogenic tissues, lesions of the maxilla and mandible may have radiologic findings not seen in other bones. Furthermore, nonodontogenic cysts and tumors that occur elsewhere in the skeleton may exhibit unique radiologic characteristics when associated with teeth. This pictorial essay presents the radiologic characteristics of inflammatory lesions, developmental abnormalities, fibroosseous lesions, benign cysts and tumors, and malignant lesions of the maxilla and mandible.