title: Interpretation of periapical lesions comparing conventional, direct digital, and telephonically transmitted radiographic images.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate direct digital radiography (DDR) and telephonically transmitted images versus conventional radiography in the interpretation of artificial periapical bone lesions. Five teeth were chosen from four cadaver jaw specimens. Three types of DDR images were evaluated: DDR stored images, DDR transmitted images, and DDR reversed images. A total of 150 DDR computer monitor images and 56 D-speed film images were evaluated by three endodontists and one endodontic graduate student. The Wilcoxon signed-ranks test was used for statistical analyses of the results. DDR reversed images were statistically inferior to DDR stored images, DDR transmitted images, and conventional radiography images (p < 0.0001). There were no statistically significant differences between DDR stored images, DDR transmitted images, and conventional film images in the ability of the evaluator to identify artificial periapical bone lesions (p > 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Endodontic Residency Program, U.S. Army Dental Activity, Fort Gordon, GA, USA.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Mistak
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Loushine
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Primack
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Runyan
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015588:Observer Variation; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019112:Teleradiology