Use of magnetic resonance imaging to measure facial soft tissue depth.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility of using magnetic resonance imaging to estimate facial tissue depth at standard anthropological facial landmarks.


METHODS
Standard facial landmarks were marked with magnetic resonance imaging opaque markers on 10 normal subjects. Three observers estimated facial tissue depth at these landmarks on up to three separate occasions, and comparisons were made among the observers.


METHODS
The study was conducted with volunteers at the University of Alberta Biomechanical Engineering unit.


METHODS
The volunteers were healthy individuals of both sexes between the ages of 18 and 30 years.


METHODS
The technical error of measurement among observers was used as the main indicator of precision of measurement.


RESULTS
Measurements of tissue depth showed tolerable technical error of measurement and were precisely measured within and among observers.


CONCLUSIONS
Magnetic resonance images can be used to estimate tissue depth in human faces with precision.
Vander Pluym
J
J
Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Shan
W W
WW
Taher
Z
Z
Beaulieu
C
C
Plewes
C
C
Peterson
A E
AE
Beattie
O B
OB
Bamforth
J S
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results