[Evaluation of the accuracy of 3-D spiral CT in diagnosis of maxillofacial fracture].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the value of three dimensional (3-D) CT in diagnosis of maxillofacial fractures.


METHODS
72 patients with maxillofacial fractures were scanned by three dimensional (3-D) spiral CT, The three dimensional images of maxillofacial fractures were detected by using various rotation axes. All images confirmed clinically were analyzed, in terms of types and locations. The accuracy of X-ray film, 2-D CT and 3-D CT in fractures were compared.


RESULTS
3-D spiral CT provided a clear stereoscopic view of the complex maxillofacial fractures and their peripheral relations. Compared with radiography and 2-D CT, 3D CT was superior in revealing the location, displacement, accompanying fractures and deformities with high resolution and vivid visualization.


CONCLUSIONS
3-D CT is of important clinical value in diagnosis of complex maxillofacial fractures. It helps display clearly the location and displacement of complex maxillofacial fractures and design the surgical plan.
Lu
Meng
M
Department of Stomatology, Xiaoshan First People's Hospital, Xiaoshan 311201, Zhejiang Province, China. EWQZ0909@163.com
Ni
Huan-Sheng
HS
Han
Xiang
X
Zhou
Sheng
S
D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000295:instrumentation*