Idiopathic Gingival Elephantiasis – A Case Report

Gingival elephantiasis is a rare slow progressive lesion which is also known as gingivalfibromatosis. It can be localized or generalized. This condition can be inflammatory, non-inflammatory or combination of both. The etiology involved could be due to poor oral hygiene, inadequate nutrition, a systemic hormonal stimulation. Genetic cause has been implicated as its etiology with several genes mutations and sometimes associated with syndromes such as Cross syndrome, Rutherford syndrome or Ramen syndrome but isolated cases are also reported and their etiology often remains unknown. This paper reports a very interesting case in which a 35 year old female came with complain of generalized swelling of gingiva covering the occlusal surface with mobility of teeth. Patient was asymptomatic and there was progressive increase in growth of gingivasince 1 year. Histopathologicaldiagnosis of gingivalgrowth confirmed the diagnosis.</p

Application of cone beam computed tomography gray scale values in the diagnosis of cysts and tumors

Background: Studies have unveiled that in CBCT the degree of x-ray attenuation is shown by gray scale (voxel value) that is used in determining the pathologic lesion. Gray value is to assess the density or quality of bone and the density varies depending on radiation attenuation. CBCT gray values are considered approximate values and its measurement allows differentiation of soft tissue and fluid with that of hard tissue. Aim and Objective: We aimed to evaluate the application of CBCT gray scale value of cysts and tumors to assess the difference of bony changes and to determine the significance in diagnosing the contents of the lesions. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the department of Oral Medicine and Radiology. Patient clinically diagnosed either with cysts or tumors over a period of 18 months were included in the study. The gray scale reading was taken and radiological diagnosis was made which was further compared with the histopathological report of cysts and tumors. Results: CBCT gray scale value was found to be effective and superior to conventional radiographic tool and more useful in diagnosing the nature of cysts and tumors pre-operatively. Conclusion: CBCT gray value can be considered as a major tool in diagnosis of cyst and tumor and other soft or hard tissue lesion without any microscopic evaluation. CBCT gray scale measurement is superior to conventional intraoral radiographic methods for diagnosing the nature of lytic lesion of jaw

Cone Beam Computed Tomography Analysis of Incidental Maxillary Sinus Pathologies in North Indian Population

Introduction: Maxillary sinus can be visualized in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional images. Computed tomography (CT) is considered the gold standard method for the examination of maxillary sinus. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) addresses the limitation of CT and provides many dental advantages. It can provide valuable knowledge about the pathology with limited exposure and low cost compared with other imaging used for diagnostic purposes. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study is to analyze the prevalence of pathological changes in maxillary sinus of asymptomatic cases using CBCT for diagnostic purposes. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 231 patients for incidental maxillary sinus pathologies. Pathological findings were categorized as mucosal thickening, polypoid mucosal thickening, radiopacification, and no pathological findings. Evaluation of pathological findings was done using factors of age and gender. Results: The present study showed 86 cases with maxillary sinus pathology and 145 cases with no pathological findings. Patients with maxillary sinus pathology were mostly diagnosed with mucosal thickening on both sides. In right maxillary sinus, 45 cases (52.3%) showed mucosal thickening, and on the left side 36 cases (41.9%) were diagnosed with mucosal thickening. Among 86 cases reported, 20 right maxillary sinus (23.3%) and 25 left maxillary sinus (29.1%) showed no signs of pathology. Conclusion: The incidental maxillary sinus pathologies are highly prevalent in asymptomatic patients. Therefore, oral radiologists should be aware of these incidental findings which will help in early diagnosis and treatment of disease