An evaluation of digital subtraction radiography for assessment of changes in position of the mandibular condyle.

OBJECTIVE

To compare conventional visual evaluation with digital subtraction for assessing changes in condylar position on TMJ radiographs.

METHODS

Horizontally corrected oblique lateral transcranial radiographs of the TMJ were taken bilaterally with and without a stabilisation or a control appliance on the same occasion in 20 patients. All of the radiographs were assessed both conventionally and following digital subtraction by seven observers. Three observers assessed both sets of radiographs twice to calculate observer agreement.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences in observer performance or diagnostic outcome between the two techniques. Intra-observer agreement varied between 85 and 90% for the conventional visual evaluation and between 62 and 85% for digital subtraction. Although interobserver agreement was greater with the conventional evaluation the difference was not significant.

CONCLUSION

Conventional visual evaluation is recommended for the assessment changes in condylar position from TMJ radiographs.