Primaxillary incidental findings in CBCT reports

Objectives: CBCT provides volumetric data, information beyond that needed for the referred question exists. In medical CT, this information is reported to include incidental findings, which may need further evaluation. We aimed to identify the prevalence, location and effect on nearby structures of incidental findings that may be encountered in CBCT reports. Experimental Methods: In this retrospective research we examined all CBCT reports conducted institute during 2008. Reports were screened by two independent examiners for incidental findings that were not part of the original referral question. The findings were divided into 4 categories; airway, endodontics, alveolar maxilla and others. Results: We screened 406 CDCT reports, of which 289 met with the research's inclusion criteria. Among these, 31% included incidental findings. Most of the findings were airway affiliated, followed by endodontic while alveolar maxillary and others were less frequently encountered. Conclusions: According to our results, 1 of every 3 CBCT reports included incidental findings which deserve special attention. These findings may serve as a baseline for future morbidity or as an explanation for patients symptoms that were overlooked by the referral doctor or they may be the cause of further medical referral. We suggest that, as conducted in medical CT, each CBCT report should be accompanied by a radiologist report, which will insure that such incidental findings would not be ignored.