Can mandibular depiction be improved by changing the thickness of double-oblique computed tomography images?
OBJECTIVE
Multislice helical computed tomography (CT), which can provide detailed 2-D and 3-D reconstructed images, is useful in imaging diagnosis for dental implant treatment. Therefore, in this study, it was performed to clarify the mandibular depiction of double-oblique reconstructed images when changing their thickness.


METHODS
A total of 38 sites in the mandibular molar region were examined using multislice helical CT. The thicknesses of the double-oblique images using multislice helical CT scans were reconstructed in 4 conditions: 0.3 mm, 0.9 mm, 1.6 mm, and 4.1 mm. In double-oblique images, mandibular depiction was evaluated by 5 oral radiologists using a subjective rating score.


RESULTS
In the alveolar crest and the whole of the mandibular canal, the highest value was obtained with 0.9 mm-thick images; however, there was no significant difference between 0.3 mm and 0.9 mm-thick images.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that depiction of the superior wall of the mandibular canal cannot be improved by changing the thickness of images.
Naitoh
Munetaka
M
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Aichi-Gakuin University, Nagoya, Japan. mune@dpc.aichi-gakuin.ac.jp
Katsumata
Akitoshi
A
Hiraiwa
Yuichiro
Y
Aimiya
Hidetoshi
H
Ohsaki
Chiaki
C
Ariji
Eiichiro
E
D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*