A 62-year-old female complaining of molar area symptoms

Dental News

4 years ago

A 62-year-old female presented complaining of periodic symptoms from right mandibular molar area

Dr. Hassem Geha (geha@uthscsa.edu) – MS Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology University of Connecticut, School of Dental Medicine, Farmington, CT

Symptoms haven’t been severe in recent times. She was previously seen by a dentist approximately 12-18 months ago due to swelling and infection in that area. At that time, she was treated with antibiotics and was told that the mandibular right wisdom tooth needs removal by a surgeon.

The patient reported that she has had anesthesia of her lower right lip during flare up episodes, but this has resolved completely with no further paresthesia or anesthesia after antibiotherapy. Current clinical examination showed moderate gingival inflammation surrounding 48, and 48 was slightly tender to percussion. Caries were noted on teeth 48 and 18.

Radiographic findings

A panoramic radiograph and a Cone beam CT of the right mandible showing 48 and 47 and part of the mandibular ramus were available for radiographic interpretation.

The viewed images show that Tooth 48 is impacted with an enlarged follicular sac. There is a well-defined, non-corticated low density extending from the level of the buccal CEJ of this tooth and extends inferiorly to the level of the apex of this tooth and loops around the apex into the lingual aspect of the tooth.

This low density extends to the lingual cortical plate causing thinning and mild expansion and likely a perforation.

Additional Findings

• Endodontically treated 36 with widened PDL space were noted suggestive a periapical pathosis.

• Missing teeth 28.

Radiographic differential diagnosis

Findings in the area of 48 are suggestive of an enlarged pericoronal sac that got infected and invaded the buccal PDL space of 48 and spread into the lingual area of this tooth. This is highly supported by the history of inflammation and infection as reported by the patient and the current clinical observation of tender swelling and moderate inflammation. In addition, there appears to be some occlusal trauma on 48 by 18 causing an additional stress on the PDL space of the tooth leading to a wider PDL space.

Although an infected cyst can cause resorption, it is unlikely that it loops around the roots and causes resorption lingually and thinning and perforation of the lingual cortical plate with no expansion or subperiostal new bone formation. Usually, such cysts expand in a balloon-like fashion beyond the CEJ. This feature is not present in the current lesion. We clearly see a different path of expansion on the distal aspect of 48 that is not in continuity with the follicular sac.

Also, while an infected cyst can cause erosion of the cortical outline of the mandibular canal, there is likelihood that the origin of the lesion is neurogenic tumour that extends from the mandibular canal and causes the resorption on the lingual aspect of 48. Such a lesion can cause thinning and perforation of the lingual cortical plate with no expansion. Also the patient has had episodes of anesthesia that can fit a neurogenic tumour. However, as these symptoms resolved, such tumour becomes an unlikely candidate.

Another unlikely lesion can be a low grade muco-epidermoid carcinoma. Usually such malignant tumours tend to cause anesthesia or paresthesia that does not subside with treatment.

Our differential included the following in a preferential order:

1. High likelihood for infected follicular cyst.

2. Low likelihood of Neurogenic tumour with or without superimposed infection.

3. Least likelihood of a low grade malignant tumour.

*Area of 48 with tracing*
*of the mandibular canal*

*Cross-sectional views showing the path of the mandibular canal*

Course of action

Since the patient was asymptomatic, she was referred to an Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon for tooth extraction and biopsy.

Surgical planning of extraction of 48 and associated requested biopsy should take into consideration the position of the mandibular canal within the lesion and the fact that the cortical outline is lost.

Also, the surgical treatment should take into consideration the possible lingual perforation and the risk of injury of the lingual nerve in this area.