Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Feb 15:7:7.
doi: 10.4103/jos.JOS_93_17. eCollection 2018.

Assessing the validity of ITK-SNAP software package in measuring the volume of upper airway spaces secondary to rapid maxillary expansion

Mohammed Almuzian  1 , Hind Mohammed Al Ghatam  2 , Lubna Al-Muzian  3
Affiliations

Assessing the validity of ITK-SNAP software package in measuring the volume of upper airway spaces secondary to rapid maxillary expansion

Mohammed Almuzian et al. J Orthod Sci. .

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the validity of a free-access software package (ITK-SNAP) in segmenting and measuring the volume of upper airway spaces secondary to rapid maxillary expansion (RME).

Materials and methods: Sixteen participants who required RME were recruited for this study. Preoperative (T1) and 6-month postoperative (T2) cone-beam computed tomographic scans of all participants were analyzed. OnDemand3D software packages was used for superimposition and orientation of the images, while ITK-SNAP software was used to measure the volume of airway spaces. At week one (W1), all volumetric measurements were carried out by one examiner and repeated after 1 week (W2). Paired t-test, the interclass correlation coefficient, and Dahlberg coefficients of reliability were used to assess the reproducibility.

Results: Student's t-test showed no significant difference between the W1 and W2 set of measurements (P > 0.05). Coefficients of reliability were above 95% and intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from 0.99 to 1.000, which altogether confirmed the satisfactory reproducibility of the measurements.

Conclusions: ITK-SNAP software package is a reliable and cost-effective method to segment and measure upper airway changes subsequent to RME.

Keywords: Airway volume; ITK-SNAP software; maxillary expansion.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Superimposition of T1 over T2 images, on the cranial base structure, to produce NT1 image
Figure 2
Figure 2
Volumes of interest and their boundaries
Figure 3
Figure 3
Segmentation procedure using ITK-SNAP
Figure 4
Figure 4
Three-dimensional virtual visualization of nasopharyngeal spaces
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Brown G. The application of orthodontia principles to the prevention of nasal disease. Dent Cosmos. 1903;45:765–775.
    1. Haas AJ. Rapid expansion of the maxillary dental arch and nasal cavity by opening the midpalatal suture. Angle Orthod. 1961;31:73–90.
    1. Hilberg O, Pedersen O. Acoustic rhinometry: Recommendations for technical specifications and standard operating procedures. Rhinol Suppl. 2000;16:3–17. - PubMed
    1. Doruk C, Sökücü O, Biçakçi AA, Yilmaz U, Taş F. Comparison of nasal volume changes during rapid maxillary expansion using acoustic rhinometry and computed tomography. Eur J Orthod. 2007;29:251–5. - PubMed
    1. McDonald JP. Airway problems in children-can the orthodontist help? Ann Acad Med Singapore. 1995;24:158–62. - PubMed