Evaluation of the cervical vertebrae maturation index in lateral cephalograms taken in different head positions.
The aim of this study was to evaluate if upward or downward head inclination might interfere with determination of the growth stage, using cervical vertebrae maturation index (CVMI), in order to verify the accuracy of such diagnosis when radiographs are taken with errors. Forty-nine patients, 26 females and 23 males, aged 9 to 15 years, were submitted to 3 lateral cephalograms: normal (NHP), with 15° upward head inclination (NHP-Up), and with 15° downward head inclination (NHP-Down). Three examiners evaluated the CVMI on the 147 cephalograms. The agreement among examiners was higher in the evaluation of cephalograms taken in NHP. The weighted Kappa test revealed moderate to substantial agreement between NHP and NHP-Up and between NHP and NHP-Down. There was greater agreement between NHP-Up and NHP-Down. It may be concluded that the evaluation of the CVMI on cephalograms in NHP is different as compared with radiographs taken with inclinations. Both NHP-Up and NHP-Down exhibited greater disagreement in the interpretation among examiners, since the evaluation method was not designed for cephalograms with positioning errors.
Department of Orthodontics, UNICID - University of São Paulo City, São PauloSP, Brazil.
Fernando César
FC
Torres
Department of Orthodontics, UMESP - Methodist University of São Paulo, São Bernardo do CampoSP, Brazil.
Marcos Shinao
MS
Yamazaki
Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, São José dos CamposSP, Brazil.
Renata Pilli
RP
Jóias
Department of Dentistry, UFS - Federal University of Sergipe, LagartoSE, Brazil.
Luiz Renato
LR
Paranhos
Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, São José dos CamposSP, Brazil.
Sigmar de Mello
Sde M
Rode
Department of Health Sciences, USC - Sagrado Coração University, BauruSP, Brazil.
Danilo Furquim
DF
Siqueira
Department of Orthodontics, UNICID - University of São Paulo City, São PauloSP, Brazil.
Acacio
A
Fuziy
D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D056888:Patient Positioning; D011859:Radiography