CBCT-based bone quality assessment in decompression of large odontogenic cystic lesions

Bone quality comprises bone mineral density and trabecular microstructure. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in evaluating bone quality of large odontogenic cystic lesions after decompression using CBCT and BoneJ software, and to determine whether secondary definitive surgery can be guided using CBCT data.

Twenty-seven patients with large odontogenic cystic lesions treated by decompression were evaluated by CBCT. Medical history and perioperative details were analyzed.

The \(\Delta\)CT values for all patients with cystic lesions decreased after decompression, with no differences for age, sex, and histology (p > 0.05). Bone volume fraction and trabecular number of new cancellous bone (0.012%, 0.17/mm³) were lower than those of normal cancellous bone (0.189%, 0.47/mm³) (p < 0.05), while new cancellous bone trabecular separation (11.344 ± 2.556 mm) was stronger than normal cancellous bone trabecular separation (4.833 ± 2.232 mm) (p < 0.05). There were no differences in trabecular thickness between new cancellous bone (3.812 ± 1.593 mm) and normal cancellous bone (4.598 ± 3.573 mm) (p = 0.746). The \(\Delta\)CT values of five patients with favorable osteogenesis were − 72, −86, − 86, −47, and − 55, those of three patients with moderate osteogenesis were − 107, −120, and − 71, and those of two patients with poor osteogenesis were − 165 and − 127 during secondary definitive surgery.

CBCT is considered beneficial for evaluating bone quality of large odontogenic cystic lesions after decompression, while providing potentially useful information for referral to secondary definitive surgery.