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. 2017 Jul;46(5):20160389.
doi: 10.1259/dmfr.20160389. Epub 2017 Mar 13.

Evaluation of the diagnostic efficacy of two cone beam computed tomography protocols in reliably detecting the location of the inferior alveolar nerve canal

Aditya Tadinada  1 , Sydney Schneider  2 , Sumit Yadav  3
Affiliations

Evaluation of the diagnostic efficacy of two cone beam computed tomography protocols in reliably detecting the location of the inferior alveolar nerve canal

Aditya Tadinada et al. Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2017 Jul.

Abstract

Objectives: 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.

Keywords: CBCT; dental implants; inferior alveolar nerve; oral radiology; tooth extraction.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Locations of cross sections used for length measurements: A, mental foramen; B, middle of the first molar; C, middle of the second molar; D, middle of the third molar.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Coronal section at the level of the mental foramen showing measured distance MFa (from inferior cortical border of the mandible to the top of the mental foramen) and measured distance MFb (from inferior cortical border of the mandible to the top of the IANC). Note: this image was derived from a CBCT scan acquired with the 360° rotation protocol.
Figure 3
Figure 3
CBCT scans acquired with a 180° rotation protocol: reconstructed panoramic image (a); coronal section showing measured distance at middle of first molar (b).
Figure 4
Figure 4
CBCT scans acquired with a 360° rotation protocol: reconstructed panoramic image (a); coronal section showing measured distance at middle of first molar (b).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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