Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of juxta-apical radiolucency
(JAR) and its relations with surrounding structures using cone-beam computed tomography
(CT). A total of 215 cone-beam CT images was analysed retrospectively to record the
presence, site, and size of the JAR, and the relations between the JAR and the mandibular
canal, buccal or lingual cortical plates, tooth position, and condition of root apex.
Descriptive analyses were made, and relations between the categorical variables were
tested with the chi squared test. JAR was detected in 71 (33%) (5 bilateral and 66
unilateral) of 215 patients (378 mandibular third molars) on cone-beam CT images.
It was most commonly seen mesial to the tooth (43%) and above the third molars (55%),
and was least common lingual to the tooth (3%) and at the distoangular third molar
(3%) (p = 0.005). There was no significant relation between the JAR and the mandibular
canal, but JAR was most likely to be detected superiorly to the mandibular canal (59%
of cases). JAR can be seen and evaluated with cone-beam CT. It was most commonly seen
mesial to the tooth and above the third molar. No significant relation was found between
JAR and the mandibular canal, cortical plate, or condition of the apex. Future studies
on the assessment of JAR should be done with a larger sample size as prospective cone-beam
CT studies.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 02, 2020
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© 2019 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
