The significance of idiopathic osteosclerosis found in panoramic radiographs of sporadic colorectal neoplasia patients and their relatives

Osteosclerotic lesions in the mandible are reported with increased frequency in patients with colorectal neoplasia. Panoramic radiography has been suggested to detect high-risk patients among relatives of patients with hereditary adenomatous disease and sporadic colorectal cancer. The present study was undertaken to compare the incidence of idiopathic osteosclerotic lesions in patients with sporadic colorectal cancer and their first-degree relatives with the incidence in the general population and to determine whether panoramic radiographs are a reliable method to screen for early detection of risk of colorectal cancer. A total of 283 patients were interviewed and radiographically examined. Idiopathic osteosclerosis appeared in significantly increased incidence only in patients with colorectal cancer or adenomas and a first-degree relative with CRC (χ² = 7.214; p < 0.01,andχ² = 4.1827; p < 0.05 respectively). The incidence was not increased in first-degree relatives of patients with colorectal cancer or adenoma. Therefore panoramic radiographs cannot be the only screening tool for early detection of patients at high risk of colorectal cancer.