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Comparative Study
. 2016;45(2):20150296.
doi: 10.1259/dmfr.20150296. Epub 2015 Nov 6.

Comparative evaluation of mandibular canal visibility on cross-sectional cone-beam CT images: a retrospective study

Mahogany S Miles  1 , Edwin T Parks  2 , George J Eckert  3 , Steven B Blanchard  1
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Comparative evaluation of mandibular canal visibility on cross-sectional cone-beam CT images: a retrospective study

Mahogany S Miles et al. Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2016.

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the visibility of the mandibular canal (MC) in CBCT images and if the visibility of the MC is affected by gender, location and/or age.

Methods: CBCT images were evaluated for the visibility of the MC by a board-certified oral and maxillofacial radiologist, a board-certified periodontist and a periodontics resident. Representative slices were examined for the first premolar (PM(1)), second premolar (PM(2)), first molar (M(1)) and second molar (M(2)) sites by all examiners. The visibility of the MC was registered as either present or absent.

Results: 360 total CBCT cross-sectional images were examined, with the MC identified in 204 sites (56%). Age had a significant effect on MC visibility, but it differed by location: for PM(1), age 47-56 had lower visibility than age 65+ (p = 0.0377). Gender also had a significant effect on canal visibility, where females had lower visibility than males overall (p = 0.0178) and had the most pronounced difference for PM(1) (p = 0.0054). Location had a significant effect on visibility, but it differed by age and by gender: for age 65+, M(2) had lower visibility than PM(1) (p = 0.0411) and PM(2) (p = 0.0180), while for females, PM(1) had lower visibility than M(1) (p = 0.0123) and M(2) (p = 0.0419).

Conclusions: The MC was visualized only in just over half of the CBCT images. Age, gender and location had significant effects on the visibility.

Keywords: cone-beam CT; dental implants; diagnostic imaging; mandible; radiology.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mental foramen visible at PM1 41 × 52 mm (96 × 96 dots per inch).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mandibular canal visible at M2 36 × 50 mm (96 × 96 dots per inch).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mandibular canal not distinguished from other anatomical structures at PM1 30 × 51 mm (96 × 96 dots per inch).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Canal visibility (%) by age and location, with 95% confidence interval. Significant visibility differences were found: female < male, PM1, age 47–56 < PM1 age 65+, M2 age 65+ < PM1 age 65 + and PM2 age 65+, (p = 0.0180); female PM1 < female M1 and female M2. M1, first molar; M2, second molar; PM1, first premolar; PM2, second premolar.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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