Comparison of cephalometric radiographs obtained from cone-beam computed tomography scans and conventional radiographs.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated whether measurements on conventional cephalometric radiographs are comparable to measurements on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-constructed cephalometric radiographs taken from human skulls.


METHODS
The CBCT scans and conventional cephalometric radiographs were made using 40 dry skulls. With I-Cat Vision software (Imaging Sciences International, Inc, Hatfield, PA), a cephalometric radiograph was constructed from the CBCT scan. Standard cephalometric software was used to identify landmarks, and calculate distances and angles. The same operator identified 15 landmarks on both types of cephalometric radiographs on all images 5 times with a 1-week interval.


RESULTS
Intraobserver reliability was good for all measurements. The reproducibility of measurements on cephalometric radiographs obtained from CBCT scans was better, compared with the reproducibility of those on conventional cephalometric radiographs. There was no clinically relevant difference between measurements on conventional and constructed cephalometric radiographs.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurements on CBCT-constructed cephalometric radiographs are comparable to conventional cephalometric radiographs, and are therefore suitable for longitudinal research.
van Vlijmen
Olivier J C
OJ
3D-Facial Imaging Research Group Nijmegen-Bruges, Department of Orthodontics and Oral Biology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Bergé
Stefaan J
SJ
Swennen
Gwen R J
GR
Bronkhorst
Ewald M
EM
Katsaros
Christos
C
Kuijpers-Jagtman
Anne M
AM
D002508:Cephalometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric