title: Evaluation of reliability and reproducibility of linear measurements of cone-beam-computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  it was to evaluate intra- and interexaminer reliability and reproducibility of linear measurements in cone-beam tomography (CBCT) images.
  
  
  METHODS
  CBCT scans were obtained from 50 patients of a private clinic. Two examiners located the landmarks twice in two-dimensional and three-dimensional images on different days, with images performed 1 week apart. Intra- and interexaminer reproducibility and reliability were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the measurement error (ME) did not show significant differences between intra- and interexaminers. The intraclass correlations (ICC) between the intra- and interexaminer readings obtained with the different methods showed almost perfect matches. The results demonstrated high examiner reproducibility for linear and volumetric parameters with high intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV). The ICC showed that the methodology was highly reliable and reproducible (ICC- >0.99 and CV <1.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the measurements demonstrated strong agreement between examiners and significant reliability and reproducibility. Therefore, this methodology can serve as a standard for linear measurement analysis of the topography of mandibular canal and osseous adjacent structures.
authors.affiliation: Ribeirão Preto Dentistry College (FORP/USP), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Post-Graduation Student. Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago de Santana
authors.initials: Tde S
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Ana Cláudia Amorim
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Daniela Guimarães
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.forename: Auremir Rocha
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Josuel Raimundo
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.forename: Lorena Cássia Gueiros
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.forename: Rosana Maria Coelho
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Travassos
authors.forename: Paulo Ricardo Saquete
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Martins-Filho
authors.forename: Marta Rabelo
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Piva
authors.forename: Heitor Fontes
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult