抄録
Pathologically advanced sclerosing osteomyelitis of the mandible exhibits characteristic findings on imaging studies, such as a diffuse osteosclerotic appearance, an ill-defined border between the cortical bone and bone marrow, and bone apposition around the mandible. However, because neither subjective nor objective symptoms occur in the early stages, many aspects of early imaging findings of sclerosing osteomyelitis of the mandible remain unknown. In this study, we assessed the longitudinal changes in the mandible before the onset of symptoms in patients with sclerosing osteomyelitis of the right mandible, employing computed tomography images taken for follow-up of malignant lymphoma at the Department of Hematology in our hospital. During the early stages after the onset of asymptomatic sclerosing osteomyelitis of the mandible, an increased computed tomography value was observed around the root of the causative tooth. When a radiolucent area appeared around the root apex, opacity around the root was enhanced. After the patient noted inflammatory symptoms in the tissue around the causative tooth, the degree and area of opacity further increased. Bone apposition to the outer surface of the cortical bone and the presence of radiolucent spots in the opaque area were then confirmed.
