title: Spatial resolution requirements for digitizing dental radiographs.
abstract: A study was performed to determine the appropriate spatial resolution for digitizing and transmitting dental radiographs with the KODAK EKTASCAN, a computer-based digital enhancement and transmission system. Periapical, bitewing, and panoramic radiographs were digitized in three formats representing varying spatial resolution parameters. Eight viewers used a 5-point rating scale to evaluate the detectability of periapical pathosis on the periapical images, of proximal surface caries on the bitewing images, and of various bony abnormalities on the panoramic images. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated, and the results of the periapical, bitewing and panoramic experiments were presented as trapezoidal and maximum likelihood receiver operating characteristic curve areas. The results of this study indicate that digital images of dental radiographs provide adequate diagnostic accuracy for evaluating the presence of periapical pathosis, proximal surface caries, and specified bony abnormalities. The digitization parameters established for the KODAK EKTASCAN provide a guide for digitizing dental radiographs on other commercially available digital image-processing systems.
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kassebaum
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: McDavid
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Dove
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Waggener
mesh_terms: D003201:Computers; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010486:Periapical Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic