Evaluation of high-resolution cone beam computed tomography in the detection of simulated interradicular bone lesions.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study is to assess the accuracy of limited-volume high-resolution cone beam CT (CBCT) in the detection of periodontal bone loss.

METHODS

163 simulated periodontal lesions of different depths were created in dried human hemimandibles. Specimens were imaged using the intraoral paralleling technique and limited-volume CBCT (3DX Accuitomo; Morita Co. Ltd, Kyoto, Japan). Ten viewers examined the images. Data were analysed with receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. ROC curves were generated and the areas under the maximum-likelihood curves (A(z)) were compared. Other statistical analyses were used to detect the normality of the distribution of the results.

RESULTS

The results are reported as the individual viewer ROC curve areas for each of the two imaging modalities. In all experiments the A(z) area for CBCT (0.770-0.864) was larger than the A(z) area for periapical film (0.678-0.783); statistical tests showed a statistically significant difference between the two modalities.

CONCLUSIONS

Results indicate that the CBCT technique has better accuracy and diagnostic value than periapical films in the detection of interradicular periodontal bone defects.