[Detection of small alveolar bone lesions by digital subtraction radiography].
OBJECTIVE
To employ digital subtraction radiography (DSR) system developed by our school and co-ordinative unit, for diagnosis of small artificial alveolar bone lesions, in order to evaluate the system.


METHODS
Seventy-two 0.2-0.9 mm3 lesions were produced in premolar and molar areas of the dry human mandibles. The reference and subsequent radiographs were taken before and after lesions being made. The small lesions were detected by conventional radiographs and by DSR method respectively.


RESULTS
As for 0.2-0.5 mm3 lesions, the detections by both DSR and conventional methods were less than 50%. As for 0.7 mm3 lesions, the detection by DSR and conventional methods were 57.5% and 38.7%, respectively (P < 0.01). As for 0.9 mm3 lesions, the accuracy of the detection by DSR and conventional methods was 89.3% and 57.3% (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The detectability of small alveolar bone lesions by DSR system was obviously superior to the conventional method.
Zhou
S
S
School of Stomatology, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100081.
Ma
X
X
Zhang
G
G
D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital