OBJECTIVES: To investigate the usefulness of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in cases of suspected osteomyelitis (OM) of the mandible. METHODS: 13 patients with clinical suspected OM of the mandible underwent cone-beam computed tomography with the NewTom QR-DVT 9000. After CBCT revealed signs confirming the diagnosis of OM, biopsies were performed. Only cases in which histology confirmed the OM were included in this study. RESULTS: CBCT sufficiently depicts OM-typical lesions like osteolytic and osteosclerotic areas as well as periosteal reaction, ill-defined cortical borders and sequestra. CONCLUSIONS: Because the local extension of the disease and its relationship to anatomic structures can be sufficiently detected by CBCT, we see an important additional indication for the usage of CBCT. With regard to distinct cases CBCT combined with scintigraphy seems to be a sufficient diagnostic strategy concerning suspected OM.
