Comparison of Diagnostic Accuracy of Different Radiographic Techniques in Diagnosing Periapical Lesions: A Clinical Study.

Purpose: This study compares the diagnostic accuracy of three radiographic techniques-periapical radiography (PA), panoramic radiography (PAN), and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-in detecting periapical lesions. Methods: A clinical study was conducted involving 60 patients with suspected periapical lesions. Each patient underwent PA, PAN, and CBCT imaging, and the findings were independently assessed by three experienced radiologists. Diagnostic accuracy was determined by correlating imaging results with surgical findings or histopathology reports. Results: CBCT demonstrated the highest diagnostic accuracy (95%) compared to PA (80%) and PAN (72%). The superior accuracy of CBCT was attributed to its ability to detect small lesions and provide three-dimensional views. PA was effective in detecting moderate-sized lesions but lacked depth information, while PAN was limited by overlapping structures. Conclusion: CBCT outperformed traditional radiographic techniques in diagnosing periapical lesions, particularly for small or complex cases. These findings emphasize the importance of selecting appropriate imaging modalities for accurate diagnosis.