Assessment of the availability of bone volume for grafting in the donor retromolar region using computed tomography: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the area and volume of bone available for grafting in a donor retromolar region using computed tomography (CT).


METHODS
Ten patients previously scanned by multislice CT were selected for evaluation. Images from partially and completely dentate patients at least 18 years of age were included in the study; those from patients with impacted or erupted third molars or intrabony lesions in the study area were not included. Computer software with appropriate tools was used to handle the images. Two calibrated observers made measurements separately. Safety margins in relation to the lingual cortex, the base of mandible, and the alveolar canal were established in each cross-section of the CTs. Measurements were done by using cross-sectional views, and the results were calculated after three-dimensional reconstruction, providing area and volume data.


RESULTS
The mean area of bone available for grafting was 8.12 cm2 (range, 0.00 to 13.60 cm2) and 8.32 cm2 (range, 0.00 to 14.30 cm2) for observers 1 and 2, respectively. Mean available bone volume for grafting was 0.79 cm3 (range, 0.00 to 1.50 cm3) for observer 1 and 0.85 cm3 (range, 0.00 to 1.60 cm3) for observer 2. Interobserver analysis showed substantial agreement.


CONCLUSIONS
The retromolar region showed a wide variety of anatomic differences among patients. Three-dimensional multislice CT allows reproducible measurements of the area and volume of the retromolar region.
Cremonini
Caio Cesar
CC
School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. caiocre@yahoo.com.br
Dumas
Marianna
M
Pannuti
Cláudio
C
Lima
Luiz A
LA
Cavalcanti
Marcelo Gusmão Paraíso
MG
D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation / Q000379:methods*; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000473:pathology*; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D015588:Observer Variation; D009929:Organ Size; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012984:Software; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*