title: Cone beam computed tomography for dental and maxillofacial imaging: technique improvement and low-dose protocols.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate images quality and radiation doses of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) for dental and maxillofacial imaging testing five different acquisition protocols.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dose measurements of different acquisition protocols were calculated for Pax Zenith three-dimensional (3D) Cone Beam (Vatech, Korea) and for conventional orthopantomography (OPT) and cephalometric skull imaging Ortophos (Sirona Dental Systems, Bernsheim, Germany). The absorbed organ doses were measured using an anthropomorphic phantom loaded with thermoluminescent dosimeters at 58 sites related to sensitive organs. Five different CBCT protocols were evaluated for image quality and radiation doses. They differed in FOV, image resolution, kVp, mA, acquisition time in seconds and radiation dose. Measurements were then carried out with the orthopantomograph. Equivalent and effective doses were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reference protocol with large FOV, high resolution quality images, 95 kVp, 5 mA and acquisition time of 24 s resulted in a DAP value of 1556 mGy cm2instead the protocol with reduced kVp from 95 to 80 kVp translated into a value of DAP inferior to 35% (from 1556 to 1013 mGy cm2). Going from a high resolution to a normal resolution, there was a reduction of the acquisition time to 15 s which allowed further dose reduction of approximately 40% (628 mGy cm2); this protocol resulted in a value of effective dose of 35 microSievert (μSv). Moreover, the effect of changing FOV has been evaluated, considering two scans with a reduced FOV (160 × 140  and 120 × 90 mm, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBCT low-dose protocol with large FOV, normal resolution quality images, 80 kVp, 5 mA and acquisition time of 15 s resulted in a value of effective dose of 35 microSievert (μSv). This protocol allows the study of maxillofacial region with high quality of images and a very low radiation dose and, therefore, could be proposed in selected case where a complete assessment of dental and maxillofacial region is useful for treatment planning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio, Via dei Vestini, 66100, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Feragalli
authors.affiliation: Complex Structure Medical Physics, Scientific Institute Hospital "Città della Salute e della Scienza", C.so Bramante, 88, 10126, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Osvaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rampado
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto 1, 71100, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abate
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio, Via dei Vestini, 66100, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Macrì
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio, Via dei Vestini, 66100, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Festa
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, A.S.L. Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stromei
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio, Via dei Vestini, 66100, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caputi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto 1, 71100, Foggia, Italy. giuseppe.guglielmi@unifg.it.|Department of Radiology, Scientific Institute Hospital "Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza", Viale Cappuccini 1, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy. giuseppe.guglielmi@unifg.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guglielmi
mesh_terms: D002508:Cephalometry; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry
keywords: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT); Dental imaging; Dose area product (DAP); In vitro phantom study; Low-dose protocol; Orthopantomography (OPT)