title: Three-dimensional quantitation of periradicular bone destruction by micro-computed tomography.
abstract: We have previously shown that two-dimensional, high-resolution, micro-computed tomography is a rapid, reproducible, and noninvasive method for measuring periradicular bone resorption in mice, giving results virtually identical to histology. In this study, we determined whether a three-dimensional volumetric quantitation of bone resorption could be achieved and whether this correlates with two-dimensional measurements. Periradicular lesions were induced in the lower first molars of mice by pulp exposure and infection; unexposed teeth served as controls. Mandibles were harvested on day 21 and subjected to: (a) three-dimensional micro-computed tomography imaging; and (b) conventional histology. Using a three-dimensional model and a semiautomatic contouring algorithm, we determined three-dimensional void volume, void surface, void thickness, and the standard deviation of the thickness distribution. The results showed a significant correlation between lesion void volume and two-dimensional lesion area by histology (r2 = 0.73), as well as high correlations between void volume and void thickness (r2 = 0.86) and standard deviation of the void thickness (r2 = 0.87), but no relationship with void surface. These results show that three-dimensional analysis of micro-computed tomography images is highly correlated with two-dimensional cross-sectional measures of periradicular lesions. Nevertheless, micro-computed tomography allows assessment of additional microstructural features as well as sub-regional analysis of lesion development.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Dietrich
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: von Stechow
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balto
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stashenko
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000818:Animals; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008852:Microradiography; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016062:Porosity; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods