ABSTRACT
The causes of swellings are varied and different pathologies have to be confirmed or ruled out when dealing with proliferative lesions. The radiographic description of proliferative lesions takes into account the type, shape, borders, density, tooth involvement, and adjacent structures. Many odontogenic cysts are diagnosed in cats and dogs including dentigerous, lateral radicular, eruption, and follicular cysts. The radiographic appearance of malignant feline tumors consists of bone lysis and, in some areas, new bone formation. The prevalence of oropharyngeal tumors in dogs was 5.4% of all canine tumors in one report. Odontogenic tumors arise from remnants of odontogenic epithelium located in the periodontal ligament space and gingiva. Non-neoplastic lesions occurring in the maxillofacial bones cannot be diagnosed exclusively by imaging techniques. Hyperostosis is bone enlargement that appears as a large, irregular, thickened bony mass surrounding the normally present bone. Fibrous dysplasia is a non-neoplastic lesion thought to be developmental in origin.
