Condylar shape analysis using panoramic radiography units and conventional tomography.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to compare condyle shape between lateral temporomandibular joint (TMJ) images from axially corrected tomography and 3 panoramic radiography units with TMJ-specific programs.


METHODS
The TMJ from a single dry human skull was imaged with multidirectional tomography and the following 3 panoramic radiography units: Instrumentarium OP 100, Planmeca PM 2002 CC Proline, and Soredex Orthophos DS. A curve-fitting procedure (spline curves) was used to mathematically describe condyle outlines. One sample t tests were used to compare panoramic images against the tomograms (gold standard).


RESULTS
A significant difference (P < .05) in condyle shape was found between TMJ tomography images and each of the 3 panoramic images. Images from the PM 2002 CC Proline demonstrated the smallest shape difference (13.4%), followed by the OP 100 (17.5%) and the Orthophos DS (24.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
If panoramic radiography is to be used for the initial radiographic examination of the TMJ, practitioners should be aware of the potential for shape distortion of the condyle.
Mawani
Farah
F
Private Practice, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Lam
Ernest W N
EW
Heo
Giseon
G
McKee
Ian
I
Raboud
Donald W
DW
Major
Paul W
PW
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016477:Artifacts; D006801:Humans; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008433:Mathematics; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed