Role of Computed Tomography in Evaluation of Oral Cavity Lesions

Abstract Background: The oral cavity and its floor are prone to various lesions that often require imaging for accurate assessment. CT is particularly valuable for evaluating bone involvement, soft tissue spread, and lesion extent. This study highlights CT’s role in diagnosing and characterizing oral lesions, guiding clinical decisions by mapping disease progression and adjacent structure involvement. Materials & Methods: A prospective descriptive analysis of 60 patients presenting with lesions and associated symptoms of oral cavity had undergone computed tomography of the oral cavity for assessing various benign and malignant conditions of the oral cavity and their imaging appearance on the basis of enhancement pattern and intensity. Results & Discussion: Out of 60 cases of oral cavity lesions were divided based on enhancement and intensity on computed tomography, showing contrast enhancement (71.7%), no contrast enhancement (15%), varying enhancement (13.3%) and on intensity, with lesions appearing iso/hyperdense (71.7%), hypodense (28.3%) Various cases reported as per different CT findings include – · Benign (41.7%)- Branchial cleft cyst, Thyroglossal duct cyst, Lingual thyroid, dermoid, Ludwig’s angina, simple and diving ranula, polyostotic fibrous dysplasia and ameloblastoma · Malignant (58.3%)- Squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity Conclusions: CT’s accuracy in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions is clinically meaningful, though histopathology remains the gold standard. A multidisciplinary approach that includes imaging, clinical evaluation, and pathology is crucial for optimal management of oral cavity lesions.