CBCT: Third Eye In Dental Oncology

Background: The highest incidence of oral cancer is observed in South Asia, making it the Oral cancer with the sixth highest incidence worldwide. Less than 60% of patients survive for five years, indicating a high fatality rate. Preoperative diagnostic imaging modalities offer data on metastasis to distant locations, extension, and infiltration into nearby structures. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is the modality of choice these days for analysing medullary changes and determining the extent of bony infiltration in the maxillofacial region. The literature proposes three patterns of bony invasion: the erosive, infiltrative, and mixed patterns. Aim: The purpose of this study is to analyse the patterns of bone invasion and its relationship with that of the mandibular canal. Methodology: This study included 50 CBCT images of patients with radiologically evident mandibular bone invasion and clinically and histopathologically diagnosed OSCC. By analysing the axial section of CBCT images, the bone invasion patterns are classified into three groups based on the erosive pattern, infiltrative and the mixed pattern. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Version 22. P value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Among 50 samples erosive, infiltrative, and mixed patterns were observed with a frequency of 30%, 20%, 50% respectively. As well as the comparison of IANC involvement to different patterns showing 10% in the erosive pattern, 16% in the infiltrative pattern, and 34% in the mixed pattern respectively. Conclusion: The evaluation of mandibular bone invasion patterns in patients with OSCC was done using CBCT. Fifty samples in all were chosen for the investigation and their different patterns of bony invasion were assessed. The mandibular canal exhibits the highest involvement in a mixed pattern.