Radiopaque lesions of the jaw

Radiopaque jaw lesions or radiopaque area found on an x-ray? What is it? I’m going to slowly update with more interesting finds. Be aware most of these are bet guesses and not biopsy confirmed, as most do not warrant that. We have a post for radiolucent lesions on panos as well with much of the same information.

An unknown radiopaque area or lesion is a regular find in dentistry.

So what is the calcification that you found on the pano? Typically you can decide by location what the calcification is, but this is not always the case. I have found the following diagram very helpful.

Phleboliths

Clinically and radiographically consistent with idiopathic osteosclerosis

Calcified lymph nodes

Tonsilloliths

Appears to be a lot of diffuse tonsilloliths

Giant tonsillolith with a ghost image seen on the opposite side.

Antrolith

An antrolith is a calcified mass in the maxillary sinus.

Reactional osteogenesis of the maxillary sinus

Very similar to antrolith. Asymmetrical bone growth in response to inflammatory process resulting from an odontogenic issue. Silva Gen Dent 2022

Condylar osteophyte

Condylar osteophyte is a form of osteoarthritis.

Osteochondroma (OC) of temporo mandibular joint

This is a slow growing tumor that causes a progressive enlargement of the condyle.

Ossification or calcification of stylohyoid ligament

This can cause Eagle syndrome WHEN their is pain.

Sialolith

Sialoliths are present in .1-1% of the population although I think that is a very high number. 94% are in the submandibular gland, 5% in parotid and rest in sublingual and minor glands. Pinheiro 2021 Gen Dent. Removal is not necessary unless symptomatic. Deeper stone requires removal of submandibular gland and ligation of duct.

Huge sialolith with ghost image on opposite side. Brooks AGD Nov 2020

Stone in the hilum of the submandibular gland.

Mucous Retention pseudocyst

If this one appears funny to you, then good eye. We thought it was strange looking so took a CT to confirm and there is nothing there. This is some sort of artifact.

Idiopathic osteosclerosis or dense bone island DBI

The cause and classification of these is controversial. Biopsy is not necessary unless large changes occur. 25% growth in 6 months or 50% in one year according to Mariani 2009 Oral Implant. Here is a short video of a dense bone island with the PA and CT.

This guy has an amazing website with tons of information on all sorts of pathology.

Idiopathic osteosclerosis is the working diagnosis of this radiopaque jaw lesion.

CT of a dense bone island.

Although rare idiopathic osteosclerosis can cause root resorption over time. Sisman 2010 Eur J Dent

Condensing osteitis

Condensing osteitis from a tooth that is necrotic.

Hypercementosis vs Cementoblastoma

These two can be difficult to differentiate between. Is is an early cementoblastoma or hypercementosis? This case shows hypercementosis but even with the CT this could be an early cementoblastoma and a follow up x-ray would verify. Pinto JOMR 2017

Osteoma cutis

This is simply bone formation in the skin and usually the patient has acne in the area. Presents as doughnut shaped with smooth borders.

Grafting materials

There are so many different types of grafting material out there than could possibly show up as radiopaque. The minerlaized collagen ones can show up radiopaque. Most dentists do not know that, as evidenced from this facebook thread of a collagen plug. The OsteoGen Plug will be radiopaque from months 3-5. This is in their brochure.

You can see all molars sites have a graft material which is one of the big clues this is a collagen plug that shows up radiopaque.

Radiopaque foreign body in pano

This one is a gun shot wound patient (GSW). It’s actually just a pellet from a college incident of boys screwing around.

Pellet is still in sinus

This one is the back to an ear ring. She is 12 and there is no memory of doing this. It was not visible in pano so never found until and orthodontic scan was done.

BB on a peri-apical x-ray.

Unknown objects

This radiopaque object appears to be resting on the condylar process or head.

Our opinion is this is some type of silver nanoparticle. Perhaps a silver nanoparticle medicament that was pushed out the apex or injected into a fistula.

Brachytherapy

Ligature clips or staples can be seen in the neck region of panos

These pop up on panos. Usually will see a lot of them and they are on only one side in comparison to the next category which is on both sides.

Ligature clips from surgery

Sleep apnea anchors

These implant anchors are part of a sleep apnea treatment. They can anchor the tongue or the hyoid bone up to the inferior border of the mandible.

Sleep apnea anchors are implants in the inferior border of the mandible to lift the hyoid or tongue to help alleviate sleep apnea.

Susuk charm needles

Will be in south east Asian women most likely. Put in place for health or beauty beliefs. Will likely be symmetrical to some degree, unlike surgical ligation clips.

Landmarks on a pano.

Unknown findings radiopaque

Barnacle tartar

Have come across this one several times online. Often will form in rings around the tooth and appears like black barnacles growing off the roots.

Unusual tartar

This tartar looks like a fracture in the tooth. Upon extraction we saw it was tartar.

Radiopaque jaw lesions that also have a radiolucent component. These are mixed lesions.

There are several lesions that are both radiopaque and radiolucent in the jaw bone.

Ossifying fibroma

Ossifying fibroma is a rare benign tumor of connective tissue. A really large one is seen on Fayette Williams Instagram account.

Osteomyelitis

This one is a mixture of radiopaque and radiolucent. In the areas that are struggling to stay alive the bone will be very radiopaque, as the bone is undergoing reactive sclerosis. As it dies, the area obviously becomes radiolucent. Treatment is aggressive removal of necrotic bone and 6-8 weeks of IV antibiotics.

If you are looking for radiolucent lesions check out that blog.