Prevalence of pneumatized articular tubercle using panoramic radiography and cone beam-computed tomography: A retrospective study

Abstract

Context:In 1985, Tyndall and Matteson first described the air cells that occur in the root of zygomatic arch and in the articular eminence of the temporal bone but do not extend beyond the zygomaticotemporal suture.Aims:The aim is to study the prevalence and patterns of pneumatized articular tubercle (PAT) retrospectively using two different imaging modalities, i.e., digital panoramic radiography and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).Subjects and Methods:Total 3000 panoramic radiographs belonging to 1291 females and 1709 males and CBCT scans of 200 patients belonging to 62 females and 138 males were studied retrospectively and investigated for radiographic features of pneumatized articular tubercle.Results:Prevalence found by using panoramic radiography is 1.96% and by using CBCT is 12.5%.Conclusions:This research scrutinizes the prevalence of pneumatized articular tubercle and establishes the prevalence of the same among the studied population, using panoramic radiography and CBCT.

Panoramik Radyograflarda Pnömatize Artiküler Eminens Prevalansı ve Özellikleri: Retrospektif Bir Çalışma ve Literatür Taraması

“…Interestingly in the present study, both locularity types were observed in one patient. Bhalchim et al reported two patients who had unilocular on side and multilocular on the other side (11). The detailed results of previous studies are showed in Table 3.…”

Articular eminence pneumatization in patients with different sagittal skeletal patterns: Cone-beam computed tomography study

“…Bhalchim et al [21] found unilocular PAT to be more prevalent on panoramic radiographs and multilocular PAT to be more prevalent on CBCT scans. is difference may be attributed to the fact that CBCT provides more detailed images of the temporal bone and panoramic radiographs are negatively affected from superimpositions and distortion of the evaluated area.…”

“…[20] Pneumatization is a normal physiological process. [21] In human temporal bones, the extent of pneumatization is usually limited to the mastoid process, the perilabyrinthine region, and the petrous apex. In rare cases, epithelium may infiltrate the zygomatic process, articular eminence, squamous and occipital regions, or the area around the TMJ.…”

“…[9,16,17,28] In studies that used panoramic radiographs as the imaging method, the prevalence was low because of the complexity and superimpositions of the adjacent structures on the examined area. [10,[13][14][15][16]21] Whereas Bhalchim et al [21] reported a prevalence of 1.96% of PAT on panoramic radiographs from 3000 patients, they found a prevalence of PAT of 12.5% on CBCT images from 200 patients. is difference was linked to the higher diagnostic value of CBCT as the 3D imaging method and the low diagnostic value of panoramic radiography on the TMJ area.…”

“…is difference was linked to the higher diagnostic value of CBCT as the 3D imaging method and the low diagnostic value of panoramic radiography on the TMJ area. [14,21] Even though panoramic radiography has advantages such as low cost, low radiation dose, and being a routinely used imaging method, it has limitations such as superimpositions of adjacent structures. [4,5,7,14,18] On panoramic images, the skull base and zygomatic process are superimposed on the TMJ and this limits the ability to diagnose PAT.…”