Incidental imaging findings on oral radiology

摘要

O'Sullivan et al emphasise the importance of incidental imaging findings (Research, 23 June). We would like to draw readers' attention to an aspect nottackled by the authors: oral radiology. The extraordinary growth of 3D radiology has benefited dentistry, particularly with the advent of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for both diagnosis and treatment planning. Its growing use, improved resolution, and increasing field of view also results in more frequent incidental findings, which raise the problem of further investigation, diagnosis, referral, and follow-up. A 2013 systematic review found a high prevalence of incidental findings in large field-of-view CBCT exams.