FEP-14 Future Roles for Ultrasound Imaging

CE Hours: 1.25

Description: ULTRASOUNDS REAL TIME IMAGING  (USI) is and advanced complement in  endodontic diagnostic techniques. Ultrasound  real-time imaging, (echography ), widely used in most  fields of medicine since its introduction  in 1942, is based on the generation and reflection of ultrasound waves  and on the different mechanical and acoustic  properties of body tissues.  USI does not use ionizing radiations, and thus it represents a safe exam. The most important features of USI  are its safety and  its ability to describe the content of the lesions within the maxillary bones, in terms of presence of solid tissue, different fluids and vascularity. The use of USI has been successfully  applied to the endodontic field for the  DETECTION and DESCRIPTION of apical periodontitis, for the  DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS between CYSTIC  and SOLID lesions of endodontic origin, and between endodontic lesions and non-endodontic lesions;  and also for evaluating the  short  and  long term outcome of  orthograde and  surgical endodontic treatment. An integrated system of CBCT and USI would provide the clinician with the tools for the complete assessment of apical periodontis.

Learning Objectives:  

• Describe the imaging technique called Ultrasound real-time examination, its main features and its biological safety.
• Describe  the most important advantages of using  Ultrasound real-time examination when applied to the visualization and description of lesions of apical periodontitis in the mandible and in the maxillary bone, their content and vascularization.
• Describe the advantages of using Ultrasound real-time examination, as a complement to 3D radiographic examination, to differentially diagnose bone  lesions with fluids or solid content, high, low, or no vascularity, to trace sinus tracts.