title: Comparative assessment of subjective image quality of cross-sectional cone-beam computed tomography scans.
abstract: Since the introduction of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), several novel systems with different technical specifications and settings have become commercially available. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate CBCT systems for differences in the subjective quality of images obtained for various dental procedures. We evaluated the subjective image quality of cross-sectional scans obtained from various CBCT systems. Images of three cadaver mandibles were obtained from four different CBCT units: 1) Veraviewepocs 3D 40 × 40 mm field of view (FOV) (voxel size: 0.125 × 0.125 × 0.125 mm), 2) Iluma, low-resolution (voxel size: 0.3 × 0.3 × 0.3 mm), 3) Kodak, 50 × 3.7 cm FOV (voxel size: 0.076 × 0.076 × 0.076 mm), and 4) Vatech 12 × 8.5cm FOV (voxel size: 0.160 × 0.160 × 0.160 mm). We assessed subjective image quality and the visibility of 10 specific features, namely, caries, amalgam restoration, final implant drill, root canal filling, metal crown, mandibular canal, mental foramen, tooth (periodontal ligament space and lamina dura), trabecular pattern, and soft tissue. Images were viewed and scored by five calibrated observers, and image quality was ranked from best to worst. The Veraviewepocs 3D had the highest quality images for most of the assessed features, whereas the Iluma low-resolution scans were rated as the lowest quality images.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. dtkivo@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kivanç
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamburoğlu
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murat
authors.forename: Eray
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kolsuz
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: Selcen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yüksel
authors.forename: Candan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paksoy
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D002102:Cadaver; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio