Maxillofacial Radiology 197

Abstract

Large field of view cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images allows the visualisation of anatomical structures outside of the teeth and jaws. These areas include the cranial vault and paranasal sinuses. Occasionally pathology, anatomical variation and various other incidental findings can be seen.1 As the use of CBCT has become more common amongst general dentists and specialists, awareness and understanding of incidental findings are of great importance, for the patient as well as medico-legal reasons. Calcifications that are found as incidental findings on CBCT scans within the brain can be pathological or physiological in origin. areas within the brain where physiological calcifications can be found include the pineal gland, choroid plexus, habenular, tentorium cerebelli, sagittal sinus, and falx cerebri. The most reported form of physiological brain calcifications is in the pineal gland and is thought to be an age-related change.2 Pathological calcifications are less common than the physiological variants and are because of more serious diseases such as infectious diseases, endocrine disorders, metastatic lesions, and primary intracranial tumours, to name a few.