Mandibular osteoradionecrosis: a comparison of computed tomography with panoramic radiography.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the value of computed tomography (CT) with panoramic radiography in the diagnosis and presurgical evaluation of mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN). METHODS: Retrospective study comparing the diagnostic information from CT and panoramic radiography of 33 patients with clinical symptoms of ORN. In six patients the imaging was compared macroscopically with the resected mandible. RESULTS: Both panoramic radiography and CT revealed ORN in 31 cases. In 22 the anterior-posterior extent of the lesions could be estimated with equal reliability. In six patients the lesion appeared larger on CT and in three on panoramic radiography. Mono- or bicortical destruction, central necrosis and sequestration were better visualized by CT. Comparison between the imaging findings and the surgical resection showed that CT depicted the topography of the specimen more accurately. CONCLUSIONS: CT is superior to panoramic radiography in visualizing the features of mandibular ORN and the anterior-posterior extent of the lesion.