Imaging of Tonsilloliths: A Comparative Analysis of Representation Across Different Radiological Modalities

Al-Haj Husain A, Necker FN, Stadlinger B (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Case Reports in Dentistry Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Book Volume: 2026

Article Number: 6877625

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1155/crid/6877625

Abstract

Tonsilloliths are calcifications commonly formed within the palatine tonsils, with a prevalence ranging from 10% to 40%. While typically asymptomatic, tonsilloliths can occasionally lead to complications. This case report presents a 50-year-old male with incidental bilateral radiopacity in the mandibular angle region detected on an orthopantomogram with no clinical symptoms. Advanced imaging modalities, including 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and MR-based cinematic rendering (CR), were employed for differential diagnosis of the observed radiopacity and preprocedural planning of extractions and implant placement in the context of the patient′s dental pathology. The consistent visualization of tonsilloliths across various imaging modalities highlights the unique strengths of each technique in diagnosing, visualizing, and differentiating these calcifications. This multimodal approach can provide valuable insights for accurate diagnosis, effective surgical planning, and improved diagnostic confidence, even in asymptomatic patients with incidental findings.

Involved external institutions

University of Zurich / Universität Zürich (UZH) CH Switzerland (CH) Stanford University US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Al-Haj Husain, A., Necker, F.N., & Stadlinger, B. (2026). Imaging of Tonsilloliths: A Comparative Analysis of Representation Across Different Radiological Modalities. Case Reports in Dentistry , 2026(1). https://doi.org/10.1155/crid/6877625

MLA:

Al-Haj Husain, Adib, Fabian N. Necker, and Bernd Stadlinger. "Imaging of Tonsilloliths: A Comparative Analysis of Representation Across Different Radiological Modalities." Case Reports in Dentistry 2026.1 (2026).

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