Evaluation of condyles position in cone beam computed tomography imaging and its relationship on the size in panoramic view

Abstract

Background and Aims In patients with temporomandibular joint disorders, one of the prescriptions is panoramic radiography. Although the right and left mandibular condyles are the same size in most people, and due to the rotation of the condyle head on one side, it is possible that the size of the same side may appear larger or smaller in the panoramic radiography, which causes the dentist to misdiagnose it as hyperplasia or hypoplasia of the condyle. In CBCT images, the angle of this rotation can be obtained; Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between the rotation of the condyles and its relationship with its size in a panoramic view. Materials and Methods In this descriptive-analytical study, 35 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and 35 panoramic images were studied. In the panoramic images, the size of the condyle was evaluated, and in the axial section of the CBCT images, the size of the condyle and the angle of the condyle were evaluated with the sagittal plane. The data obtained from the study were investigated and statistically analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and linear regression by SPSS.19 software. Results First, the results showed that by increasing the angle of the right and left condyles in CBCT, the size of the right and left condyles in the panoramic image increases by 0.03 mm. But this difference was not statistically significant (p-value=0.33). Then, based on the results, it was observed that by considering the left condyle as the benchmark of the angle change effect, with an increase in the angle of the right condyle in CBCT, the size of the right condyle in the panoramic image increases by 0.11 mm, so that This difference is statistically significant (p-value <0.001).

Conclusion No correlation was found between the angles of the right and left condyles in CBCT images and the size of the right and left condyles in panoramic images. There is a significant relationship between the position of the condyles relative to each other in the CBCT view and its size in the panoramic view. By increasing the angle of the right condyle in CBCT images, the size of the right condyle in panoramic images increases by 0.11 mm.