title: Evaluation of condyle defects using different reconstruction protocols of cone-beam computed tomography.
abstract: This study was conducted to investigate how well cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) can detect simulated cavitary defects in condyles, and to test the influence of the reconstruction protocols. Defects were created with spherical diamond burs (numbers 1013, 1016, 3017) in superior and/or posterior surfaces of twenty condyles. The condyles were scanned, and cross-sectional reconstructions were performed with nine different protocols, based on slice thickness (0.2, 0.6, 1.0 mm) and on the filters (original image, Sharpen Mild, S9) used. Two observers evaluated the defects, determining their presence and location. Statistical analysis was carried out using simple Kappa coefficient and McNemar's test to check inter- and intra-rater reliability. The chi-square test was used to compare the rater accuracy. Analysis of variance (Tukey's test) assessed the effect of the protocols used. Kappa values for inter- and intra-rater reliability demonstrate almost perfect agreement. The proportion of correct answers was significantly higher than that of errors for cavitary defects on both condyle surfaces (p < 0.01). Only in identifying the defects located on the posterior surface was it possible to observe the influence of the 1.0 mm protocol thickness and no filter, which showed a significantly lower value. Based on the results of the current study, the technique used was valid for identifying the existence of cavities in the condyle surface. However, the protocol of a 1.0 mm-thick slice and no filter proved to be the worst method for identifying the defects on the posterior surface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal da Bahia, SalvadorBA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luana Costa
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal da Bahia, SalvadorBA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Sérgio Flores
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: Departament of Clinical and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, RecifePE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávia Maria de Moraes
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ramos-Perez
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Radiology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, CamaragibePE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrea dos Anjos
authors.initials: Ados A
authors.lastname: Pontual
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Radiology, School of Dentistry of Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, PiracicabaSP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Solange Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Almeida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric