The value of ultrasound and color doppler ultrasonography in the evaluation of periapical lesions in comparison to histopathological and/or surgical findings

Abstract

Background: Imaging techniques play a very important role in the specialty of endodontic. The ultrasonographictechnique is non-expensive procedure, safe, and reproducible. The aim of the study was to determine the sensitivity,specificity, and accuracy of ultrasound and color Doppler ultrasonography in evaluation of periapical lesions (cyst,granuloma, mixed lesion “cyst within graulomas mass”, and abscess.Subject, Material and method: The sample consists of prospective study for 64 Iraqi participants who attendedKarbalaa Specialized Center for Dentistry (males & females).Those patients were diagnosed clinically and radiographically as having periapical lesions of dental origin. They wereexamined by real time ultrasound and color Doppler ultrasonography with echographic predilection about the typeof the lesion based on three parameters measured by ultrasound including: content, outline, and the vascularity. Theechographic diagnosis was compared to the final histopathological and /or surgical findings obtained from theperiapical surgeries.Results: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ultrasound diagnosis were respectively as follow: for periapicalcyst, they were 92.3%, 96.1%, and 95.3%. While for periapical granulomam, they were 87.0%, 92.7%, and 90.6%. Formixed lesions, they were 66.7%, 98.4%, and 96.9% and lastly for periapical abscess, they were 92.0%, 97.4%, and 95.3%.The ultrasound diagnosis in our study had an overall agreement of 89% between ultrasound diagnosis and finaldiagnosis based on histopathological and/ or surgical findings.Conclusion: Ultrasound is a non- invasive, low cost, and complementary method for examination and diagnosis ofperiapical lesions and there is correlation of ultrasonographic findings with histopathological and /or surgical findingsfor final diagnosis.