title: Reliability of Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Determining Mineralized Tissue in Augmented Sinuses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) densitometries of maxillary sinuses augmented with human bone allograft. In addition, previously obtained microradiographic specimens were used to verify the diagnostic potential of CBCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-stage protocol was conducted in 21 consecutive patients, all with a crestal bone height < 2 mm. Mineralized human bone allograft particles were used to augment sinuses using a lateral window approach. A succession of CBCT scans of the maxilla were taken before surgery, immediately after sinus augmentation, and 6, 10, and 18 months after implant placement. Using virtual probes, CBCT images taken at 6, 8, and 10 mm from the crestal surface were processed with medical imaging software and expressed as gray level (GL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 24 sinus augmentation procedures were performed in 21 patients. The average values of CBCT-GL ranged from 571 to 654, presenting the maximum value at 8 mm immediately after implant placement and the minimum value at 6 mm after 10 months. Furthermore, it was found that the graft mineral content decreased over time, completely disappearing between 10 and 11 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBCT and the medical imaging software employed for imaging visualization are reliable tools to study biomaterial behavior after sinus augmentation procedures. In addition, results from this study demonstrate that a complete resorption of human bone allograft is possible. Due to the limited sample size, further clinical and morphometric studies are needed.
authors.forename: Carlo Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Soardi
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Suárez-López del Amo
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galindo-Moreno
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catena
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zaffe
authors.forename: Hom-Lay
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D064591:Allografts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008852:Microradiography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D059546:Sinus Floor Augmentation / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface