title: Effect of iterative restoration on the detection of artificially induced vertical radicular fractures by Tuned Aperture Computed Tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the number of iterative restorations (IR) on the diagnostic accuracy of Tuned Aperture Computed Tomography images (TACT) for detection of induced vertical/oblique root fractures in mandibular teeth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fractures were induced in 28 single-rooted, endodontically treated cadaver mandibular teeth while another 26 such teeth served as controls. TACT slices reconstructed by using 9 arbitrary projections (angular disparity of 9 degrees -20 degrees) were iteratively restored 1, 2, and 3 times. Eight observers scored their diagnoses by using a confidence rating scale. Ground truth was available from direct examination with transillumination, following extraction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean areas under the representative ROC curves for the 3 operations were 0.96 (3 IRs), 0.87 (2 IRs), and 0.86 (1 IRs). Analysis of variance demonstrated significant differences between 3 and 1 to 2 IRs (P <.01), as well as between observers (P <.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnostic accuracy of TACT for vertical/oblique root fracture detection improved after 3 IRs.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, PA 15261-1923, USA. mkn2@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Madhu K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Hans-Göran
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Gröndahl
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Webber
authors.forename: Umadevi P
authors.initials: UP
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wallace
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D012372:ROC Curve; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*