[A study of trabecular bone structure in the mandibular condyle of healthy young people by cone beam computed tomography].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for the evaluation of trabecular bone structure in mandibular condyle and to investigate the distribution of the trabecular bone structure within mandibular condyle.


METHODS
Eighty condyles from 40 healthy young volunteers (aged 20-32) were scanned by CBCT. A coronoid image was acquired of each condyle and divided into 8 regions where regions of interest were specified. After CBCT images were binarized, four morphological parameters including bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, trabecular number and trabecular separation were computed.


RESULTS
All parameters were significantly different between the superior zone and middle/inferior zone of the condyle (P < 0.05). Superior zone showed the largest bone volume fraction (52.2%), the highest trabecular number (1.33 mm(-1)), the thinnest trabecular thickness (393.48 microm), and the smallest trabecular separation (361.59 microm). Inferior zone showed the smallest bone volume fraction (49.64%). These results were not significantly different between bilateral sides of the condyles (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Trabecular bone structure was inhomogeneous within the condyle, but symmetrical between bilateral sides of the condyles. CBCT combined with image processing is a feasible tool in evaluating trabecular bone structure of human mandibular condyle.
Liu
Shu-ming
SM
Department of Radiology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
Zhang
Zu-yan
ZY
Li
Ju-peng
JP
Liu
Deng-gao
DG
Ma
Xu-chen
XC
D000328:Adult; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult