title: In vitro correlation of the level of inferior alveolar canal with CBCT imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to correlate the level of the inferior alveolar canal on cadaver specimens and as evaluated with three-dimensional radiographic cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one skulls with intact mandibles (42 inferior alveolar canals) were imaged with an I-CAT Cone-Beam 3D Imaging System and multi-planar reformatted images obtained were scored to assess the level of the canal (Level I, Level II, and Level III). The mandibles were later dissected and level of the canal was directly visualized, scored, and further correlated with results from CBCT imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in the level of the inferior alveolar canal between the dissected cadaver specimen and CBCT images. Also, there was no statistically significant difference in the level of the canal among the gender assigned to the specimens and corresponding CBCT images. There were no statistical differences in the level of the canal (cadaver specimen vs. CBCT) between the left and right sides of the specimens, as studied individually.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicates that there is close correlation of the level of the inferior alveolar canal between cadaver specimens and CBCT images. Well-designed studies would be required to further validate the findings in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry, 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Detroit, MI, 48208-2576, USA, balasuas@udmercy.edu.
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balasundaram
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Heir
authors.forename: Francisco Plaza
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Villegas
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D002102:Cadaver; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D004210:Dissection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*