The efficacy of ultrasonography in monitoring the healing of jaw lesions

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the reliability of ultrasonography (US) in comparison with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) as a tool for monitoring the healing of jaw lesions. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one radiolucent lesions in jaws referred to the Oral Surgery Department at our institution were selected for this study. All lesions underwent CBCT and US examinations. The anteroposterior, superoinferior, and mesiodistal dimensions of the lesions were measured on CBCT and US images before surgery and at 6 months after surgery. The dimensions were compared between the US and CBCT images. Blood-flow velocity around the lesions was measured by color Doppler before surgery and at 1 week and 6 months after surgery to assess the capability of US to show changes in blood-flow velocity around the lesion. Results: Before surgery, there were no significant differences between US and CBCT in the mesiodistal and anteroposterior dimensions, although a significant difference was found in the superoinferior dimension (P