title: An ex vivo comparison of diagnostic accuracy of cone-beam computed tomography and periapical radiography in the detection of furcal perforations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to assess cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) imaging with different voxel sizes and an intraoral sensor in the detection of furcation perforations.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 40 teeth, furcation perforations were created, and 40 intact teeth served as the control. Five image sets were obtained: (1) CBCT, 0.1 mm(3) voxel size; (2) CBCT, 0.15 mm(3) voxel size; (3) CBCT, 0.2 mm(3) voxel size; (4) CBCT, 0.4 mm(3) voxel size; and (5) digital periapical images. Images were evaluated twice by 3 observers. Perforation widths were measured by CBCT software. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to assess the observers' ability to detect perforation, and area under the curve values were compared by using t tests, with a significance level of α = 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences (P > .05) were found between any of the median area under the curve and true positive rate values obtained with different CBCT voxel sizes. Actual perforation width correlated highly with CBCT width measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-resolution CBCT imaging can be preferred for furcation perforation diagnosis because of its low dose and reliable diagnostic outcome.
authors: Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: dtkivo@yahoo.com.
authors: Kıvanç
authors: K
authors: Kamburoğlu
authors: Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Elif Naz
authors: EN
authors: Yeta
authors: Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Funda
authors: F
authors: Yılmaz
mesh_terms: D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D017823:Furcation Defects / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015588:Observer Variation; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital
keywords: Cone-beam computed tomography; diagnosis; furcal perforation; observer performance; radiography