Analysis of low-dose digital lateral cephalometric radiographs.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of the dose reduction obtained with photostimulable phosphor computed radiography (CR) on the identification of cephalometric landmarks.


METHODS
Dose reductions of 50% and 75% respectively were obtained by placing three storage phosphor image plates in the same cassette. Lateral cephalograms were exposed on ten patients. Seven observers identified 14 anatomical landmarks on the images.


RESULTS
The location of anatomical landmarks on the lateral cephalograms was not effected by the decreased dose (P > 0.05). Interobserver variation was the major influence.


CONCLUSIONS
A dose reduction of 75% does not effect the localization of anatomical landmarks in lateral cephalograms obtained with CR.
Näslund
E B
EB
Department of Oral Radiology, Faculty of Odontology, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
Kruger
M
M
Petersson
A
A
Hansen
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000295:instrumentation*