Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the computed tomography (CT) presentation of odontogenic myxoma (OM) in a Chinese population and to compare them with those observed on the accompanying conventional radiographs (CR).
Materials and methods: The files of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the University of Hong Kong between 1989 and 2000 were reviewed for myxoma cases.
Results: Ten cases of OM were found of which eight had been investigated by CT. The formatted hard copy was found in seven cases, four in the maxilla and three in the mandible. Most of the OMs had a round shape but one was fusiform. CT was more likely to display a cortex and its perforation. All OMs had perforated cortices on CT with soft tissue appearing outside the bony contour in two cases. Contrast enhancement was apparent in six cases. Both CR and CT displayed septae, but the latter method revealed that most septae were situated at the periphery, presenting as "sunray" type spicules in one case. Tooth displacement and root resorption were more reliably observed on CR.
Conclusion: The likelihood of perforation and pattern of septa of OM is better displayed by CT. CR should also allow a better assessment of the degree of definition of the lesion's margins with adjacent normal bone. Therefore, both CT and CR should be used in an investigation of an OM.