The use of bone imaging to detect a periapical lesion of endodontic origin.

This article reports the detection of a lesion of dental origin in the mandible of a 41-yr-old male patient during a routine bone scan used as a follow-up to cancer therapy. Unfortunately, more than 1 yr passed before the patient's signs and symptoms became severe enough for a definitive diagnosis to be made. A comprehensive dental examination is indicated for patients with positive bone scans in the area of the oral cavity. The use of bone imaging can be recommended to complement the dental examination of high risk patients with suspected metastasis or when all routine dental diagnostic measures are inconclusive.