title: Laser scanning for the identification of repeatable landmarks of the ears and face.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether or not landmarks of the ears and face could be reliably identified using a laser scaning system.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single centre study with two assessors jointly agreeing the siting of the landmarks on the ear on two separate occasions from an original laser scanned image.
  
  
  METHODS
  University based research study in London, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  20 subjects, 11 males, 9 females, aged 16-24 years with normal facial development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Differences were determined between the locations of landmarks on the two occasions studied. Differences were assessed for the x, y and z co-ordinates of each point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean difference between the two sitings of 21 landmarks ranged between 0 and 0.85 mm in the x, y and z axes. With a small number of exceptions, the differences were not statistically significant. The three-dimensional mean differences between the two sitings of each landmark ranged between 1 and 2.5 mm. Coefficients of repeatability ranged between 1.6 and 7.0 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Landmarks of the ears and face from a laser scanned image can be sited consistently by two assessors. Since the landmarks can be located it should be possible to evaluate dimensional measurements of the ear and its position on the face.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, King's Dental Institute, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Coward
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013518:Surgery, Plastic