The Accuracy of Cone Beam CT for Oral Measurements data presented at the IADR/AADR conference in San Diego 2011
San Diego, In a poster session, C Matai from the Universidade Est, Paulista Julio Mesquita, Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil, and collegues in orthodontics and anatomy presented the the results of their research assessing the accuracy of cone beam CT (CBCT) for measurement of facial structures.
Specifically, the purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of 3D measurements in the identification of craniofacial structures and expanding the knowledge of the class on the use of dental computed tomography 3D cone beam (CBCT) as a tool to aid in the diagnosis of facial structures as well in the odontology and medicine applications. What led to this study was the fact that three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) has overcome many of the problems associated with the overlapping anatomical accidents that can be common in lateral radiographs taken with the individual in profile. Further, overlap of images common to 2D radiographic methods has been eliminated.
To get at accuracy, it is noted that “the tests were in situ, on a five dry skulls, belonging to the Discipline of Anatomy, São José dos Campos Dental School- UNESP. The skulls were fixed on the central condyle with maximum intercuspation teeth. All of tham had their skull cephalometric points marked with metal identifiers and scanned with 9" Newtom cone beam tomography”
Linear measurements were compared with measures in situ measured using a digital caliper associated with the software. After validation of operator error, the data were compared and subjected to descriptive statistics and analysis. Presented results are stated to demonstrate that 40% have had a difference of less than 0.16 mm, 85% were below the accuracy of 0.58 mm and less than 3% of the difference in values was over 1 mm. Wilcoxon statistical analysis did not reveal significant difference between the methods.
Given this, the authors conclude that CBCT is a precise method for identifying and measuring the linear skull's structures when compared with the same measurements performed with a digital caliper in situ.
