MR imaging of maxillomandibular lesions

This paper addresses maxillomandibular lesions including cyst, tumor and osteomyelitis in terms of their general features and discusses the use of MR imaging techniques, interpretation of images and their characteristic findings. MR imaging of odontogenic keratocyst improved the visualization of a cystic pattern, regularly thin walls, weak enhancement of cyst walls and inhomogeneous intensity of fluid contents. However, some of them could be misdiagnosed as mixed or solid patterns by non-contrast study alone. Ameloblastoma showed mixed solid and cystic components, irregularly thick walls, papillary projections, and marked enhancement of the walls. In mandibular osteomyelitis, MR imaging could give us more detailed information regarding residual activity of infection and the extent of involvement. MR findings were suggestive to differentiate between tumors and cysts and characterize many cystic entities in the maxillomandibular region.