A comparison of diagnostic accuracy of a newly developed photofluorographic panoramic system with conventional panoramic radiography.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the diagnostic accuracy of a prototype photofluorographic panoramic system with that of a conventional panoramic system.


METHODS
We used 14 human skulls with four artificial apical bone defects in each and 13 clinical cases with 21 periapical lesions. Six dental radiologists and six senior dental students rated the presence of defects on each image on a five-point scale. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed and the area under each curve (Az) was compared as an index of accuracy. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the photofluorographic and the conventional panoramic systems (P=0.074) in detecting artificial apical defects. However, there were significant differences (P=0.03) in detecting natural defects.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnostic accuracy of the prototype photofluorographic panoramic system appears comparable with that of the conventional panoramic system. However, variability may arise from the observers' diagnostic experience and training.
Nagata
Y
Y
Department of Dental Radiology, Kyushu Dental College, 2-6-1 Manazuru, Kokura-kita-ku, Kitakyushu 803-8580, Japan.
D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019540:Area Under Curve; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010779:Photofluorography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012372:ROC Curve; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011871:Radiology; D013335:Students, Dental; D014962:X-Ray Film