Use of computed tomography scans and ultrasound in differential diagnosis and evaluation of nonsurgical management of periapical lesions

Objective. Clinicians often face the question of "whether cysts heal nonsurgically." The traditional clinical and radiographic methods are only empirical in nature. The only method available was histopathological biopsy. But once a biopsy is taken, the treatment no longer remains a nonsurgical method. Study design. On the basis of recent clinical studies, 3 periapical lesions were mapped with the help of computed tomography and ultrasound and were diagnosed as periapical cystic lesions. The cases were treated with nonsurgical root canal therapy. Results and conclusions. The cases responded favorably to nonsurgical therapy. Reevaluation with computed tomography and ultrasound revealed adequate healing of the periapical lesions. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010;109:917-923)