Effect of iterative restoration on the detection of artificially induced vertical radicular fractures by Tuned Aperture Computed Tomography.
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.
Nair
Madhu K
MK
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, PA 15261-1923, USA. mkn2@pitt.edu
Gröndahl
Hans-Göran
HG
Webber
Richard L
RL
Nair
Umadevi P
UP
Wallace
James A
JA
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*