Periapical cemento‐osseous dysplasia masquerading as asymptomatic chronic apical periodontitis in a Chinese woman: A case report

Abstract

Key Clinical Message Cemento‐osseous dysplasia (COD) belongs to a group of fibrous osseous disorders that can masquerade as periapical inflammatory conditions in the jawbones. We present a rare case of COD occurring in a patient who also had periapical periodontitis concurrently. When faced with a patient exhibiting no symptoms, diagnosis may be challenging. Abstract COD is a fibrous osseous disorder similar to periapical chronic inflammatory conditions and other cysts in the jaw bones on the radiograph. There is a rare case of COD occurring in a 49‐year‐old Chinese woman who also had chronic periapical periodontitis concurrently. The lesions were incidentally discovered in the mandibular anterior tooth region during the patient's imaging examination. The patient exhibited no symptoms, and diagnosing the conditions may be challenging due to the confusingly similar radiological features that present as a radiolucent lesion in the periapical region. The final diagnosis was made through pulp vitality tests, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and clinical examinations. The COD was recommended for annual follow‐up. Root canal therapy has been performed for chronic apical periodontitis. According to the diagnostic process of COD, a thorough history check, multiple clinical examinations, and imaging studies should be emphasized to prevent misdiagnosis and avoid unnecessary or inappropriate therapies. The patient was followed up for 6 years. The recovery of chronic apical periodontitis in tooth #31 and the transformation of osteolytic and osteogenesis of COD had been observed in CBCT.

Keywords

• CBCT
• cemento‐osseous dysplasia
• chronic apical periodontitis
• periapical cemento‐osseous dysplasia
• pulp vitality tests
• WHO classification