title: [Accuracy analysis of cone beam computed tomography in assessing furcation involvements of mandibular molars].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in assessing furcation involvements of mandibular molars.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the study, 38 furcation involvements of 22 mandibular molars which would accept furcation surgery were included. Pre-surgical examination, CBCT and periapical radiograph were performed. Then, intra-surgical furcation assessments were compared with those data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intra-surgical findings confirmed 86.8% of the CBCT data, with a weighed kappa of 0.976. Of the four parameters tested of detailed root anatomy and furcation morphology, the vertical bone loss, the mesial-distal bone loss and the length of the root trunk revealed by CBCT were consistent with their respective intra-surgical values (P>0.05): about vertical bone loss, CBCT was (4.03±2.27) mm, but in surgery was (4.32±2.31) mm; about mesial-distal bone loss, CBCT was (2.05±0.89) mm, but in surgery was (2.07±0.97) mm; about length of the root trunk, CBCT was (2.35±0.88) mm, but in surgery was (2.24± 0.75) mm. The horizontal bone loss revealed by CBCT [(3.40±1.27) mm] was significantly smaller than that by surgery [(3.72±1.19) mm]. However, the mean difference was only 0.32 mm. Periapical radiograph could only obtain vertical bone loss [(2.17±1.32) mm] and mesial-distal bone loss [(1.46± 0.88) mm], which was significantly different from that obtained in surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBCT proved high accuracy in assessing the furcation involvement of mandibular molars.
authors.affiliation: First Clinical Division, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: First Clinical Division, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: First Clinical Division, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: C Z
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Radiology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D008963:Molar; D014092:Tooth Root