IMAGINOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF EXTERNAL CERVICAL RESORPTION: CASES REPORT AND INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Resumen

External cervical resorption (ECR) is a rare pathological resorptive process that can lead to tooth loss due to its aggressive yet asymptomatic nature. The aim of this study was to report two clinical cases of external cervical resorption and review the literature regarding the imaging features of this condition. In case 1, the patient radiographically presented an extensive, irregular radiolucent lesion on tooth 46, extending from the crown to the cervical third of the root, with preservation of the root canal space. The diagnostic hypothesis was external cervical resorption. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images revealed the presence of a large, irregular resorptive lesion affecting the mesial and lingual surfaces of the tooth crown, extending to the furcation area and cervical third of the roots. Based on the CBCT images, the ECR lesion in Case 1 was classified according to Patel’s system as 3Cp. Due to the extent of the lesion, tooth extraction was recommended. In case 2, the patient exhibited an ECR 2Bd lesion on tooth 37. The resorptive tissue was removed, indirect pulp capping was performed, followed by restoration with glass ionomer cement. After 8 months, a definitive composite resin restoration was placed. With a 3-year follow-up, the patient showed pulp vitality and no signs of ECR progression. In tomographic sections, ECR presents as lesions that may be symmetrical or asymmetrical. The lesion margins can range from well-defined and smooth to poorly defined and rough, with no clear boundaries between the lesion and normal dental tissues. Imaging findings were crucial for diagnosing ECR in these cases, and the use of CBCT was essential in this process, as it enabled a detailed assessment of the condition.