title: Cone beam computed tomography for the diagnosis of vertical root fractures: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review was to compare the efficiency of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and conventional intraoral radiography for the detection of vertical root fractures (VRFs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from comparative and noncomparative studies investigating CBCT, conventional radiography, or both for the diagnosis of VRFs were searched. The main outcome variables were sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the techniques. Data were separated into 4 groups: in vivo, ex vivo/untreated teeth, ex vivo/treated teeth, and ex vivo with post. The weighted mean of each parameter was estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve articles were considered for the analysis. There was a large heterogeneity of the characteristics of the studies and a wide variability in outcome variables. No significant differences were found between radiographic techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No superiority of CBCT compared with conventional radiography was found for VRF detection. Adequate choice of voxel size seems to be important when diagnosing VRFs.
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi di Milano, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Research Centre in Oral Implantology, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corbella
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi di Milano, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Research Centre in Oral Health, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: Massimo.delfabbro@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Fabbro
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontology, Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Aviad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamse
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontology, Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontology, Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsesis
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi di Milano, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Research Centre in Oral Health, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taschieri
mesh_terms: D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D006801:Humans; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*