Comparing the efficacy of MRI vs CBCT in diagnosing soft tissue lesions in the oral cavity

Soubhagya Ranjan Kar ¹, Natasha Sahu ², Smruti Payal Mohapatra ³, Ananya Neralla ⁴, Anuja Anusikha ⁵, Tapasya Maji ⁶

¹Postgraduate trainee, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
²Postgraduate trainee, Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Institute of Dental Sciences, Siksha o Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
³Postgraduate trainee, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
⁴Post Graduate, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
⁵Postgraduate trainee, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
⁶Postgraduate trainee, Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Institute of Dental Sciences, Siksha o Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Author information

¹Email: srkaromr@gmail.com
²Email: sahunatasha.1999@gmail.com
³Email: dr.smrutie9@gmail.com
⁴Email: drananyaneralla@gmail.com
⁵Email: aanusikha.07@gmail.com
⁶Email: majitapasya606@gmail.com

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ABSTRACT

Background: Accurate diagnosis of soft tissue lesions of the oral cavity is essential for early detection, appropriate treatment planning, and improved patient outcomes. Imaging modalities play a critical role in complementing clinical and histopathological evaluation. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is widely used in dental practice but has limited soft tissue contrast, whereas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers superior soft tissue visualization without ionizing radiation. However, direct comparative evidence between these modalities for oral soft tissue lesions remains limited.

Aim: To compare the diagnostic efficacy of MRI and CBCT in the evaluation of soft tissue lesions of the oral cavity using histopathology as the reference standard.

Materials and Methods: This prospective comparative study included 100 patients with clinically suspected oral soft tissue lesions. All participants underwent both CBCT and MRI examinations using standardized imaging protocols. Images were independently evaluated by experienced oral radiologists blinded to histopathological findings. Diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and agreement with histopathology were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA software.

Results: MRI demonstrated higher diagnostic accuracy (88%) compared to CBCT (64%). Sensitivity and specificity were also superior for MRI (92.5% and 85.7%, respectively) than CBCT (65.0% and 62.5%). Cohen's kappa analysis showed strong agreement between MRI and histopathology, whereas CBCT demonstrated moderate agreement. The difference in diagnostic performance between the two modalities was statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: MRI is more effective than CBCT in diagnosing and characterizing soft tissue lesions of the oral cavity. While CBCT remains useful for evaluating associated osseous changes, MRI should be preferred for comprehensive assessment of oral soft tissue pathology when feasible.

Keywords: Cone-beam computed tomography, Magnetic resonance imaging, Oral cavity, Soft tissue lesions, Diagnostic accuracy

How to cite this article: Kar SR, Sahu N, Mohapatra SP, Neralla A, Anusikha A, Maji T, Comparing the efficacy of MRI vs CBCT in diagnosing soft tissue lesions in the oral cavity. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(3s): 473-478; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.3s.60