Panoramic mandibular index as a radiomorphometric tool: an assessment of precision.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the intra-observer repeatability and inter-observer reproducibility of the measurements used in deriving the Panoramic Mandibular Index (PMI).


METHODS
Two observers measured 21 dental panoramic radiographs independently of each other, both repeating the measurements after a period of 1 week. The measurements were then evaluated using a number of statistical methods.


RESULTS
All sets of compared measurements, both within and between observers, demonstrated significant positive correlations, with no significant difference between measurements Precision, however, was poor and variable.


CONCLUSIONS
The main difficulties in obtaining consistency in repeated measurements were related to individual morphology and radiodensity. In order to improve the validity of the PMI as a measure of local bone loss, repeatability of the measurements should be improved. Suggestions as to how this, might be achieved are discussed.
Ledgerton
D
D
Department of Dental Medicine, Turner Dental School, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, UK.
Horner
K
K
Devlin
H
H
Worthington
H
H
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D010512:Periodontal Index; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results