A comparative study of magnetic resonance imaging versus computed tomography for the evaluation of maxillary and mandibular tumors

The relative value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) versus computed tomography (CT) for imaging benign and malignant lesions of the maxilla and mandible was studied in a group of 16 patients. The imaging methods were evaluated for their ability to detect the lesion and define lesion margins, soft tissue extension, and bone involvement. The abnormality was identifiable with both imaging methods. For benign cystic lesions of either the maxilla or mandible (50%), MRI was overall equal to or better than CT. Magnetic resonance imaging was superior to CT in the evaluation of lesion margins and soft tissue extent of disease, whereas it was equal or slightly inferior to CT in lesion detection and in the evaluation of bone involvement. In the imaging of malignant neoplasms (50%), MRI was overall superior to CT in all four categories reviewed. Magnetic resonance imaging also had the highest rate of correlation with clinical findings, either from physical examination or at the time of surgery.