Visualization of the superior and inferior borders of the mandibular canal: a comparative study using digital panoramic radiographs and cross-sectional computed tomography images

• Published in: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology Vol. 115; no. 4; pp. 550 - 557
• Main Authors: Kamrun, Nahar, DDS, Tetsumura, Akemi, DDS, PhD, Nomura, Yoshikazu, DDS, PhD, Yamaguchi, Satoshi, DDS, PhD, Baba, Otto, DDS, PhD, Nakamura, Shin, DDS, PhD, Watanabe, Hiroshi, DDS, PhD, Kurabayashi, Tohru, DDS, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.04.2013
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anatomic Landmarks - diagnostic imaging; Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; Dental Implants; Dentistry; Female; Humans; Jaw Cysts - diagnostic imaging; Male; Mandible - diagnostic imaging; Mandibular Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Mandibular Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Mandibular Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Middle Aged; Multidetector Computed Tomography - methods; Osteomyelitis - diagnostic imaging; Patient Care Planning; Radiographic Image Enhancement - methods; Radiography, Dental, Digital - methods; Radiography, Panoramic - methods; Retrospective Studies; Surgery; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2212-4403; 2212-4411
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2013.01.001

Objective To evaluate the visibility of the superior and inferior borders of mandibular canal using panoramic radiography (PR) and cross-sectional computed tomography (CT) images. Study design Digital panoramic images and cross-sectional CT images of 100 patients were evaluated. The mandibular canal was divided into 4 areas of equal width (1-4), from anterior to posterior. The visibility of the superior and inferior borders was assessed using a 5-point visibility scoring system, with lower scores for worse visibility. Results For both modalities, the superior border showed significantly lower score than the inferior border in all areas. For the superior border, areas 1, 2, and 3 all showed significantly lower scores than area 4 for PR, whereas only area 1 showed a lower score than area 4 for CT. Conclusions The visibility of the superior border was very poor on panoramic images. The use of cross-sectional CT images remarkably improved this poor visualization.