Non-dental Incidental Findings in Cone-beam Computed Tomography

Introduction: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is indicated in cases where conventional radiography does not provide necessary information for an adequate diagnosis and treatment plan, being a normal requisition nowadays, in most dental clinical practices. An incidental finding (IF) detected on a radiographic image can be defined as any abnormal or pathological finding that is unrelated to the original purpose of the imaging test. The aim of this study was a review of the literature to determine the nature of non-dental IFs in the head and neck region that were found in CBCT scans. Materials: A conducted computerized search on databases Cochrane and Pubmed was perform with the following terms: "cone beam computed tomography" [Mesh] AND "incidental findings"[Mesh]. A total of 74 publications were found, and after full read of title and abstract 47 were selected. The inclusion criteria were articles in Portuguese or English; articles reporting incidental findings using CBCT. The exclusion criteria were case reports and opinion articles. After application of the criteria 17 articles were selected. Results: The most common incidental findings identified were vertebral degenerative changes, mucosal thickening, pineal gland calcification, mucous retention cysts, condylar degenerative changes and concha bullosa. Conclusion: General practitioners should be aware that incidental findings in CBCT scans, are frequent and that their identification is essential for a correct medical documentation. The effect of these IFs requires additional research in terms of follow-up care, treatment and costs. Keywords: cone-beam computed tomography, incidental findings