case_images: PMC11003790_01
case_images: (a) Lateral and (b) right ventral-left dorsal oblique view of the left mandible in patient 1. Radiograph (a) was obtained with a technique optimized for soft tissue evaluation, and radiograph (b) was obtained with a technique optimized for bone evaluation. The radiographs were obtained with a conventional film-screen radiography system, and the radiographs were digitized for publication. (a) There is a focal lobular area of soft tissue swelling with a superficial defect present ventral to the left mandibular body (arrows). (b) At the level of the soft tissue swelling, there is a linear radiolucent tract (arrow) extending through the ventral mandibular cortex in a dorsal and rostral direction, reaching the rostral tooth root of the second mandibular premolar tooth (PM2). This tract is irregularly marginated and bordered by regions of medullary sclerosis and lamellar periosteal new bone formation along the ventral mandibular cortex. A pinpoint mineral opaque fragment present in the most ventral aspect of the tract represents either a small bone fragment or debris.
case_images: CRIVEM2024-4589572.001.jpg
case_images: PMC11003790_01_CRIVEM2024-4589572.001.jpg
case_images: fig1
case_images: A focal lobular area of soft tissue swelling with a superficial defect was present ventral to the left mandibular body (Figure 1(a)). At the level of the soft tissue swelling, there was a linear radiolucent tract extending through the cortex of the ventral aspect of the horizontal ramus of the mandible, extending in a dorsal and rostral direction, and ultimately reaching the rostral tooth root of the second mandibular premolar tooth (Figure 1(b)).
case_images: PMC11003790_02
case_images: PMC11003790_03
case_images: (a, b) Two separate left ventral-right dorsal oblique projections of the right mandible in patient 3. A metallic marker has been placed at the location of a clinically reported draining tract in (b). There is a radiolucent tract (arrows) extending from the ventral cortical margin of the mandible in a dorsal and caudal direction to reach the caudal tooth root of the second right mandibular premolar tooth (PM2) and the rostral tooth root of the right first mandibular molar tooth (M1). This tract is bordered by medullary sclerosis and associated with extensive relatively smooth periosteal new bone formation along the ventral body of the mandible (arrowheads). The clinically reported soft tissue swelling along the ventral mandibular body is unable to be evaluated radiographically due to technique. Note: the circular lucent region associated with the caudal mandible is consistent with a normal tooth bud of the second mandibular molar tooth. In camels, the tooth bud of the 2nd mandibular molar begins to form at 1.5 years of age, and the tooth erupts at 3 years (approximate time of radiographs in this patient). Formation of this tooth is not complete until 4.5 years, and the tooth bud will not completely resorb until this age has been reached.
case_images: CRIVEM2024-4589572.002.jpg
case_images: PMC11003790_03_CRIVEM2024-4589572.002.jpg
case_images: fig2
case_images: Lateral, dorsoventral, and oblique radiographs of the head were obtained and showed a radiolucent tract extending from the ventral cortical margin of the mandible in a dorsal and caudal direction to reach the caudal tooth root of the right mandibular 2nd premolar and the rostral tooth root of the right first mandibular molar tooth (Figure 2).