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A comparison between two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional cephalometry on frontal radiographs and on cone beam computed tomography scans of human skulls
Author(s) -
Van Vlijmen Olivier J. C.,
Maal Thomas J. J.,
Bergé Stefaan J.,
Bronkhorst Ewald M.,
Katsaros Christos,
KuijpersJagtman Anne Marie
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0722.2009.00633.x
Subject(s) - radiography , cone beam computed tomography , skull , cephalometry , medicine , orthodontics , computed tomography , cephalometric analysis , tomography , nuclear medicine , radiology , anatomy
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether measurements performed on conventional frontal radiographs are comparable to measurements performed on three‐dimensional (3D) models of human skulls derived from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and if the latter can be used in longitudinal studies. Cone beam computed tomography scans and conventional frontal cephalometric radiographs were made of 40 dry human skulls. From the CBCT scan a 3D model was constructed. Standard cephalometric software was used to identify landmarks and to calculate ratios and angles. The same operator identified 10 landmarks on both types of cephalometric radiographs, and on all images, five times with a time interval of 1 wk. Intra‐observer reliability was acceptable for all measurements. There was a statistically significant and clinically relevant difference between measurements performed on conventional frontal radiographs and on 3D CBCT‐derived models of the same skull. There was a clinically relevant difference between angular measurements performed on conventional frontal cephalometric radiographs, compared with measurements performed on 3D models constructed from CBCT scans. We therefore recommend that 3D models should not be used for longitudinal research in cases where there are only two‐dimensional (2D) records from the past.