title: Evaluation of the accuracy of panoramic radiography in linear measurements of the jaws.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Panoramic radiography has a great place among imaging techniques because of its enormous advantages. One of the characteristics of an ideal imaging technique is to supply precise measurement. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the accuracy of linear measurements of the jaws on panoramic radiographs.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the vertical distances between the metal markers were measured by panoramic radiography in seven sites of two skulls in various head positions. Then the radiographic measurements were compared with the actual values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty three percent of the measurements were underestimated, 8.5% were overestimated on panoramic radiography and 8.5% of the measurements had no difference with the real measurements. Overestimation was not greater than 1 mm. The difference between actual and radiographic measurements was less in the posterior areas and in the mandible . In all head positions, the greatest difference between actual and radiographic measurements occurred in the anterior area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results of this study, linear measurements on panoramic radiography are more reliable in the posterior areas and may be used in early clinical measurements.
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors: S H
authors: SH
authors: Hoseini Zarch
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Bagherpour
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Javadian Langaroodi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ahmadian Yazdi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Safaei
keywords: Linear Measurement; Mandibular Canal; Mental Foramen; Panoramic Radiography