title: Evaluation of the diagnostic efficacy of two cone beam computed tomography protocols in reliably detecting the location of the inferior alveolar nerve canal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Reliable three-dimensional localization of the inferior alveolar nerve canal (IANC) is valuable for a variety of dentoalveolar procedures. Although conventional CBCT offers three-dimensional information at a reasonably low dose, it is still a significant amount of radiation. In this ex vivo study, we evaluated the ability of a 180° rotational CBCT acquisition protocol with lower number of basis projections to create a CBCT data set for reliable localization of the IANC compared with a conventional 360° rotational CBCT acquisition.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 dry human skulls were imaged using 180° and 360° rotational CBCT protocols. Measurements of the IANC throughout its course in the mandible were carried out. Two raters evaluated the measurements and rated the scans based on their ability to visualize the IANC, and the measurements were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IANC length measurements for the 180° and 360° protocols were identical. There was no difference between evaluations by the two raters for the two protocols. Interexaminer reliability values were >90% for the two protocols. The sensitivity values for the two protocols were >95%. The specificity for both protocols was 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  180° CBCT acquisition protocol is able to accurately locate the IANC with high reliability and is comparable to a conventional 360° protocol.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, University of Connecticut, School of Dental Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Aditya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tadinada
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Connecticut, School of Dental Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Sydney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: 3 Division of Orthodontics, University of Connecticut, School of Dental Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yadav
mesh_terms: D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
keywords: CBCT; dental implants; inferior alveolar nerve; oral radiology; tooth extraction