title: Assessing the Reliability of Digitalized Cephalometric Analysis in Comparison with Manual Cephalometric Analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For more than seven decades orthodontist used cephalometric analysis as one of the main diagnostic tools which can be performed manually or by software. The use of computers in treatment planning is expected to avoid errors and make it less time consuming with effective evaluation and high reproducibility.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was done to evaluate and compare the accuracy and reliability of cephalometric measurements between computerized method of direct digital radiographs and conventional tracing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Digital and conventional hand tracing cephalometric analysis of 50 patients were done. Thirty anatomical landmarks were defined on each radiograph by a single investi-gator, 5 skeletal analysis (Steiner, Wits, Tweeds, McNamara, Rakosi Jarabaks) and 28 variables were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The variables showed consistency between the two methods except for 1-NA, Y-axis and interincisal angle measurements which were higher in manual tracing and higher facial axis angle in digital tracing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the commonly used measurements were accurate except some measurements between the digital tracing with FACAD®and manual methods. The advantages of digital imaging such as enhancement, transmission, archiving and low radiation dosages makes it to be preferred over conventional method in daily use.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Orthodontics, MNR Dental College and Hospital , Sangareddy, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Mohammed Umar
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Farooq
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Orthodontics, MNR Dental College and Hospital , Sangareddy, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Mohd Asadullah
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Oral Medicine & Radiology, MNR Dental College and Hospital , Sangareddy, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imran
authors.affiliation: Consulting Oral Pathologist, SVS Diagnostic Centre , Chandanagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Ayesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sameera
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Orthodontics, Sri Sai College of Dental Sciences , Vikarabada, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Arshad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.affiliation: Head of Department and Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Sri Sai College of Dental Sciences , Vikarabada, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Syed Afroz
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Orthodontics, MNR Dental College and Hospital , Sangareddy, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Sujan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Consulting Endodontist, Life Prime Dental Hospital , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Mohd Aziz Ur
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rahman
keywords: Cephalometry; Manual tracing; Software-based tracing