title: A phantom for simplified image quality control of dental cone beam computed tomography units.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this work was to develop an inexpensive phantom for simplified image quality assurance (IQA) together with algorithms for objective evaluation of image quality parameters and to integrate these components into an easy-to-use software package. This should help make quality control of dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) units accessible, easy, and affordable for any specialist or general practitioner.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study developed an inexpensive polymethyl methacrylate (Plexiglas) phantom containing objects and structures for objective quantification of the most important image-quality parameters in CBCT imaging. It also paired the phantom with a software package, based on open-source software, for automatic processing and analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The software produces objectively measured IQA data for low- and high-contrast resolution, uniformity, noise characteristics, and geometric linearity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors consider the phantom and methods presented in this article to be a step toward helping clinical dental personnel perform regular quality assurance on CBCT units.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Radiology, Institute of Clinical Odontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Gerald R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Torgersen
authors.affiliation: Competence Centre of the Dental Health Service Region South, Arendal, Norway.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hol
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Radiology, Institute of Clinical Odontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Møystad
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hellén-Halme
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden; Department of Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. Electronic address: Mats.l.nilsson@skane.se.
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D003813:Dentistry; D006801:Humans; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011786:Quality Control; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate