Imaging diagnosis of compound - complex odontoma and impacted dental elements: a case report

Abstract

Odontomas are the most common type of odontogenic tumors, defined as a benign malformation, usually diagnosed in the second decade of life, during the investigation of late adjacent teeth eruption or a delay in exfoliation of deciduous teeth. They are divided into two types: compound and complex. The odontoma classified as compound is composed of multiple small tooth-like structures, in several shapes and sizes, surrounded by a thin radiolucent rim. On the other hand, complex odontomas resemble a mass of calcified tissue that presents the same dental tissue radiopacity, also surrounded by a thin radiolucent rim. Occasionally, both aspects can be seen in the same lesion. Often, odontomas can cause a local increase in bone volume due to their development. The diagnosis is made through routine radiographic examination and, when it is necessary, it is possible to make use of panoramic radiographies and cone beam computed tomography with the purpose of verifying its extension, malformations and erupted alterations caused to the adjacent teeth, as well as the tumor classification. This case report presents a Compound-Complex Odontoma in a 13-year-old male patient, treated in 2016 at the Oral Diagnosis Clinic II of the Federal Fluminense University. He presented impacted teeth 22 and 23, delayed eruption of tooth 63 and volume increase in the left anterior maxilla site. Aiming the patient’s diagnosis, the following exams were necessary: periapical radiographies, panoramic radiography, cone beam computed tomography. The aim of this paper is to explain the different image diagnostic tools which were used in this clinical study and what are the advantages of each exam.

Keywords: Odontoma. radiography. tomography. Impacte.