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. 2010 Dec;39(8):501-11.
doi: 10.1259/dmfr/28628723.

Diagnostic accuracy of different imaging modalities in detection of proximal caries

B Senel  1 , K Kamburoglu, O Uçok, S P Yüksel, T Ozen, H Avsever
Affiliations

Diagnostic accuracy of different imaging modalities in detection of proximal caries

B Senel et al. Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2010 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the in vitro diagnostic ability of visual inspection, film, charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor, photostimulable phosphor (PSP) sensor and cone beam CT in the detection of proximal caries in posterior teeth compared with the histological gold standard.

Methods: Visual inspection, film, CCD, PSP and cone beam CT images were used to detect proximal caries in the mesial and distal surfaces of 138 teeth (276 surfaces). Visual inspection and evaluation of all intraoral digital and conventional radiographs and cone beam CT images were performed twice by three oral radiologists. Weighted kappa coefficients were calculated to assess intra- and interobserver agreement for each image set, and scores were compared with the histological gold standard using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to evaluate diagnostic ability.

Results: Intraobserver kappa coefficients calculated for each observer for each method of detecting caries ranged from 0.739 to 0.928. Strong interobserver agreement ranging from 0.631 to 0.811 was found for all detection methods. The highest Az values for all three observers were obtained with the cone beam CT images; however, differences between detection methods were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Visual inspection, film, CCD, PSP plates and cone beam CT performed similarly in the detection of proximal caries.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Film radiographs obtained using Kodak E speed: (a) score 0, (b) score 1, (c) score 2, (d) score 3 (indicated by arrows)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Images obtained by charge-coupled device sensor: (a) score 0, (b) score 1, (c) score 2, (d) score 3 (indicated by arrows)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Images obtained by photostimulable phosphor plate sensor: (a) score 0, (b) score 1, (c) score 2, (d) score 3 (indicated by arrows)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Images obtained by cone beam CT: (a) score 0, (b) score 1, (c) score 2, (d) score 3 (indicated by arrows)
Figure 5
Figure 5
Receiver operating characteristic curves for Observer 1 for the first reading for each caries detection method. CCD, charge-coupled device; PSP, photostimulable phosphor
Figure 6
Figure 6
Receiver operating characteristic curves for Observer 2 for the first reading for each caries detection method. CCD, charge-coupled device; PSP, photostimulable phosphor
Figure 7
Figure 7
Receiver operating characteristic curves for Observer 3 for the first reading for each caries detection method. CCD, charge-coupled device; PSP, photostimulable phosphor
Figure 8
Figure 8
Accuracy rates of caries diagnosis obtained by different methods. CCD, charge-coupled device; PSP, photostimulable phosphor
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