title: Post-processing open-source software for the CBCT monitoring of periapical lesions healing following endodontic treatment: technical report of two cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the use of open-source software for the post-processing of CBCT imaging for the assessment of periapical lesions development after endodontic treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  CBCT scans were retrieved from endodontic records of two patients. Three-dimensional virtual models, voxel counting, volumetric measurement (mm3) and mean intensity of the periapical lesion were performed with ITK-SNAP v. 3.0 software. Three-dimensional models of the lesions were aligned and overlapped through the MeshLab software, which performed an automatic recording of the anatomical structures, based on the best fit. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the changes in lesions size after treatment were performed with the 3DMeshMetric software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ITK-SNAP v. 3.0 showed the smaller value corresponding to the voxel count and the volume of the lesion segmented in yellow, indicating reduction in volume of the lesion after the treatment. A higher value of the mean intensity of the segmented image in yellow was also observed, which suggested new bone formation. Colour mapping and "point value" tool allowed the visualization of the reduction of periapical lesions in several regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Researchers and clinicians in the monitoring of endodontic periapical lesions have the opportunity to use open-source software.
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Dentistry, Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, Pontificial Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Villoria
authors.affiliation: 2 School of Dentistry, Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antônio R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Dentistry, Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, Pontificial Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Dentistry, Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, Pontificial Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bernardo Q
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Souki
authors.affiliation: 3 School of Dentistry, Department of Endodontics, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Asgeir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sigurdsson
authors.affiliation: 2 School of Dentistry, Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: 2 School of Dentistry, Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Fidel
mesh_terms: D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D012984:Software; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cone beam computed tomography; computed generated 3d imaging; periapical disease