A 3-dimensional method for analyzing the morphology of patients with maxillofacial deformities.
BACKGROUND
Traditionally, cephalograms have been used to evaluate a patient's maxillofacial skeleton and facial soft-tissue morphology. However, magnification and distortion of the cephalograms make detailed morphologic analysis difficult in patients with complex deformities. The purpose of this article was to introduce a new method for visualizing deformation and deviation of the maxillofacial skeleton and facial soft tissues.


METHODS
Standard 3-dimensional Japanese head models were sized to match the sella-to-nasion distance obtained from 2 patients' (1 man, 1 woman) maxillofacial skeletal images. Then, the scaled standard model was superimposed on each patient's 3-dimensional computed tomography image.


RESULTS
This system provided clear shape information independent of size and facilitated the visualization of shape variations in maxillofacial skeletal and facial soft-tissue morphology.


CONCLUSIONS
This method will be useful for 3-dimensional morphologic analysis of patients with jaw deformities.
Terajima
Masahiko
M
Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. terajima@dent.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Nakasima
Akihiko
A
Aoki
Yoshimitsu
Y
Goto
Tazuko K
TK
Tokumori
Kenji
K
Mori
Noriko
N
Hoshino
Yoshihiro
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D008334:Mandible / Q000002:abnormalities*; D019767:Maxillofacial Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult