Resident Louisiana State University New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Cemento-osseous dysplasia (COD) is a frequently encountered radiographic finding, particularly among middle-aged African American females, though it can be present in other demographics as well. Often, COD is an incidental finding, and its radiographic appearance can easily be misinterpreted as periapical pathology. This condition reflects a reactive process where normal bone is gradually replaced by poorly cellularized cementum-like material along with cellular fibrous connective tissue, originating from periodontal ligament cells. The objective of this table clinic is to present a case report involving a 59-year-old African American male patient who developed cemento-osseous dysplasia 11 years post non-surgical root canal treatment, although it remains unclear whether the root canal treatment contributed to the onset of COD. There was no radiolucency around the apex during the initial treatment. The radiographic radiolucency was initially diagnosed as a periapical lesion, prompting the patient to undergo endodontic microsurgery. Subsequent biopsy results confirmed the diagnosis of cemento-osseous dysplasia. This case underscores the importance for clinicians to recognize that not all radiolucent areas near the apices of the roots are odontogenic in nature, especially when clinical examination yields no abnormal findings. Awareness of cemento-osseous dysplasia as a potential differential diagnosis is crucial, even in patients who do not conform to the typical demographic profile associated with this condition.
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