Magnetic resonance imaging versus cone beam computed tomography in diagnosis of periapical pathosis – A systematic review

OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis of any dental pathology can vary from being simple to challenging. While the use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is well established, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains a proof of concept. This systematic review aims to compare the diagnostic ability of MRI with CBCT in diagnosing periapical pathosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This systematic search was performed using the electronic databases of MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Science Direct to identify relevant articles from 2010 to 2020. The search terms used were magnetic resonance imaging, cone beam computed tomography, diagnosis, and periapical diseases. RESULT: In total, 3218 potentially relevant abstracts and titles were identified. After removing duplicates, 1288 articles were reviewed for titles and abstracts, and 29 articles were selected for full-text reading. From those, 19 articles were finally selected that included original research studies, case reports, and case series and were included for systematic review. Most of the studies included in this review suggested that the combined use of CBCT and MRI is needed for a better and more precise diagnosis of complex periapical pathoses. The main advantage of MRI is its ability to image soft tissues usingnonionizing radiation, and the main disadvantage in the case of CBCT is overdiagnosis of the lesion. CONCLUSION: MRI has various advantages over CBCT with similar diagnostic utility. When diagnosing periapical pathogens, both MRI and CBCT are needed for an accurate diagnosis.