When a diagnostic challenge reveals a simple diagnosis: the role of the operating microscope in Oral Medicine – a case report

Pedro Franco Ferreira; Hugo Gaêta-Araujo; Ana Carolina Fragoso Motta

doi:10.5327/2525-5711.473

Autores/as

Pedro Franco Ferreira Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto School of Dentistry, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, and Periodontology – Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5321-2291
Hugo Gaêta-Araujo Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto School of Dentistry, Department of Stomatology, Public Health and Forensic Dentistry – Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5087-5022
Ana Carolina Fragoso Motta Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto School of Dentistry, Department of Stomatology, Public Health and Forensic Dentistry – Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3887-9239

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5327/2525-5711.473

Palabras clave:

Magnification, Oral medicine, Dental operating microscope, Case report

Resumen

Magnification has been widely established in some fields of dentistry. However, its use in Oral Medicine is still incipient, and the available literature is scarce. This report describes the case of a 25-year-old male patient who was referred to our Oral Medicine clinic after a two-year diagnostic delay, presenting with a nodular lesion in the anterior maxilla and a history of severe pain and purulent drainage. Conventional radiographic examination was inconclusive, while cone-beam computed tomography and ultrasonography suggested either a cystic lesion or a chronic inflammatory process but failed to identify a clear etiological factor. During exploratory microsurgery, the magnification and illumination provided by the dental operating microscope facilitated the identification of an untreated accessory canal, while histopathological analysis confirmed a lateral radicular cyst. In this case, conventional clinical and imaging examinations were insufficient to establish a definitive diagnosis. The dental operating microscope functioned as a valuable complementary tool during exploratory surgery, enabling identification of the lesion’s underlying cause and supporting appropriate referral for treatment. This case highlights the potential value of magnification as a diagnostic adjunct in Oral Medicine.

Citas

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