title: A comparison between panoramic digital and digitized images to detect simulated periapical lesions using radiographic subtraction.
abstract: This study compared digital and digitized panoramic radiographs to detect incipient periapical lesions using the digital subtraction radiography (DSR) technique. Bone defects were created in 77 apical sites of dried human mandibles through the application of 70% perchloric acid. Conventional and digital radiographs were obtained twice at time zero and 2, 4, and 6 hours after application of the acid solution. Conventional radiographs were digitized by using the same attributes than direct digital radiographs. The baseline images were subtracted of the negative control and experimental groups and assessed by an experienced and blinded observer who assigned score 0 (normal) or 1 (mineral loss) to each image. The sensitivity of both modalities was statistically different in relation to experimental times. The percentage of correct responses significantly increased regarding experimental times. The specificity was high both for digitized and digital images. DSR of panoramic images, both digitized and digital, allows for the diagnosis of incipient-simulated periapical lesions with no differences in their performance.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Clinical Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sergio Augusto Quevedo
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Miguens
authors.forename: Elaine Bauer
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Veeck
authors.forename: Vania Regina Camargo
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Fontanella
authors.forename: Nilza Pereira
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: da Costa
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013382:Subtraction Technique / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens