title: Effect of image compression of digital lateral cephalograms on the reproducibility of cephalometric points.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of JPEG quality factors 100, 80 and 60 on the reproducibility of identification of cephalometric points on images of lateral cephalograms, compared with the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample was composed of 30 images of digital lateral cephalograms obtained from 30 individuals (15 males and 15 females) on a phosphor plate system in DICOM format. The images were converted to JPEG with quality factors 100, 80 and 60 with the aid of software, adding up to 90 images. The 120 images (DICOM, JPEG 100, 80 and 60) were blinded and 12 cephalometric points were identified on each image by three calibrated orthodontists, using the x-y coordinate system, on a cephalometric software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results revealed that identification of cephalometric points was highly reproducible, except for the point Orbitale (Or) on the x-axis. The different file formats did not present a statistically significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  JPEG images of lateral cephalograms with quality factors 100, 80 and 60 did not present alterations in the reproducibility of identification of cephalometric points compared with the DICOM format. Good reproducibility was achieved for the 12 points, except for point Or on the x-axis.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade Metodista de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vieck
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angelieri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bommarito
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dalben
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Sannomiya
mesh_terms: D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D044962:Data Compression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult