Radiographic appearance of tumours

Odontogenic tumours can be classified as benign or malignant.

Benign tumours:
-Well defined but may not be corticated (margin discernible but border may not be more radioopaque than adjacent bone)
-Slow growing therefore:
-Displaces teeth
-Causes blunt root resorption
-Displaces IAC
-Expansion and thinning of mandibular cortex

Malignant tumours:
-Aggressive and fast growing
-Ragged or Pencil sharpening root resorption (Mottling of roots)
-Erodes cortex of IAC (as opposed to deflection)
-Expansion and ragged erosion of adjacent cortex
-Loss of lamina dura-> widening of periodontal ligament space
-Periosteal reaction