Inferior Alveolar Nerve Displacement Predicting Tumor Identification

Objectives: This is a retrospective project to analyze displacement pattern of inferior alveolar nerve in a group of patients who developed Dentigerous cyst, Keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) or Ameloblastoma at the angle of their mandibles. Radiographs and other imaging studies are suggestive but not diagnostic for these lesions. The aim of this study is to see how each lesion interacts with the inferior alveolar nerve course. We predict that each lesion displaces the inferior alveolar nerve in a specific pattern.
We hypothesize that there is no difference in displacement of inferior alveolar nerve among these lesions.
Methods: Retrospective review of histologic slides of patients with one of the following lesions; Dentigerous cyst, KCOT, and Ameloblastoma (all histological types). Panoramic images will then be reviewed to confirm location and amount of displacement of the inferior alveolar nerve canal path. Data will be anonymously collected from 01/01/2005 to 12/31/2015. Sample consists of at least 60 patients who were treated at either NYU College of Dentistry or Bellevue Hospital Center in New York, with 20 patients for each specific lesion. Expedited Human Subject review was obtained as an exempt study.
Results: We are still in the process of analyzing data but we predict that the results will show distinct patterns of displacement of the inferior alveolar nerve in each lesion.
Conclusions: Differences in the pattern of inferior alveolar nerve displacement can be used as an adjunct tool to aid diagnosis of certain lesions based on Panoramic radiograph. These results may enable more effective initial treatment decisions with fewer complications such as post-operative altered sensation from unnecessary diagnostic intervention.