Versatility of high resolution ultrasonography in the assessment of granulomas and radicular cysts: a comparative in vivo study.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate and compare the diagnostic potential of high resolution ultrasound with periapical radiographs (PR) and CBCT in assessing granulomas and radicular cysts.

METHODS

This study included a total of 33 teeth from 33 patients with periapical lesions. Subjects were distributed among three groups. A consisted of teeth that were extracted. B consisted of teeth treated with root-canal treatment followed by apical surgery. C consisted of teeth treated with root-canal treatment only. Pre-treatment PR, ultrasound and CBCT images were obtained for Groups A, B and C and 6 month post-treatment PR and ultrasound images were obtained for Groups B and C. In addition, histopathological analysis was performed on lesions in Groups A and B. Lesions were classified as either cystic lesions or granulomas. Width, height, depth, surface area and volume of lesions were measured using the built-in softwares of the appropriate imaging modalities. Measurements were compared by Wilcoxon and paired sample t tests. Ultrasound and histopathological findings were compared with κ and Mc Nemar. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

κ coefficient (0.667; p = 0.002) suggested good agreement between ultrasound and histopathology. No statistically significant differences were found among periapical radiography, CBCT and ultrasound in the pre-treatment measurements of lesion width ( p = 0.308) or between CBCT and periapical radiography in the pre-treatment measurements of lesion height ( p = 0.863). In all cases, mean measurement values for all variables were lower for ultrasound than for CBCT.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound provided useful information for the diagnosis and assessment of granulomas and radicular cysts.