Diagnostic radiology of maxillary sinus defects.

Simulated radiolucent and radiopaque defects were placed in the maxillary sinus. Periapical dental radiographs could detect radiopacities of 0.25 mm in diameter; however, such defects were not revealed by occlusal radiography or the posterior-anterior view. Panoramic dental radiographs detected simulated radiopaque lesions more frequently than the other techniques tested, but generally distorted the position of the defect and consistently did not reveal radiolucent defects. Computerized tomography proved to be the most accurate technique used in detection of simulated lesions on all the surfaces of the maxillary sinus.