Accuracy of assessing the mandibular canal on cone-beam computed tomography: a validation study.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the accuracy of cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) views in determining the position and diameter of the mandibular canal.


METHODS
Two freshly frozen cadaver heads, 1 dentate and 1 edentate, were used to acquire CBCT scans. Measurements on cross-sectional CBCT images were compared with measurements on digitized histologic sections of the same regions in the mandibles. The Student t test was used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Comparing CBCT with histologic measurements showed that the position of the mandibular canal differed up to 0.47 mm (standard deviation, 0.29 mm). Mandibular canal diameters were up to 22.8% smaller in the CBCT planes. For the dentate jaw, these differences were statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
To be safe, when assessing the mandibular canal position on CBCT views, a 0.76-mm deviation should be taken into account. Because the diameter of the mandibular canal is displayed smaller, an enlargement by 0.74 mm is recommended.
Former Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 3D Facial Imaging Research Group, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Nicolaas Lucius
NL
Gerlach
Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 3D Facial Imaging Research Group, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Hossein
H
Ghaeminia
Doctor, Department of Preventive and Curative Dentistry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Ewald Maria
EM
Bronkhorst
Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 3D Facial Imaging Research Group, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Stefaan Jozef
SJ
Bergé
Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 3D Facial Imaging Research Group, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Periodontology and Biomaterials, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Gerrit Jacobus
GJ
Meijer
Doctor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 3D Facial Imaging Research Group, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: t.maal@mka.umcn.nl.
Thomas Jan Jaap
TJ
Maal
D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D002102:Cadaver; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004396:Coloring Agents; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000592:standards*; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003817:Dentition; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008751:Methylene Blue; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D016613:Plastic Embedding / Q000379:methods; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes
D004396:Coloring Agents; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C025485:basic fuchsin; D008751:Methylene Blue