Comparison of the Accuracy of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography with Two Different Voxel Sizes In Detection of Furcation Defects: An In-Vitro Study

Abstract

Introduction: Considered as a major manifestation of periodontal damage, furcation defects are quiet common in periodontal diseases. While the progress of periodontal attachment loss is irreversible, bone defects can heal by detection and management at early stages. Thus a diagnostic radiographic means wih a decent specificity and sensitivity but also an optimized amount of radiation can be helpful in early detection and prevention of periodontics-associated tooth loss. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the accuracy of two voxel sizes in detection of furcation defects. Materials and methods: In this In-Vitro study, 64 posterior sheep teeth underwent Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) among which were 36 manually-created furcation defects and 28 controls. The Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) with two voxels of different sizes were taken. The resulting images were categorized under the supervision of a maxillofacial radiologist and then randomly viewed by two observers (an oral and maxillofacial radiologist and a periodontics specialist) and examined from axial, coronal and sagittal sections. Presence or absence as well as the degree of lesions were recorded. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 24 software and the results were reported as percentage, kappa coefficient, specificity and sensitivity.

Results: There was no significant difference in the detection accuracy of imaging with the two voxel sizes in furcation defects. Grade III lesions were accurately detected with both two voxel sizes while the detection accuracy of grade I and II lesions were lower. The sensitivity of the smaller voxel (0.15mm3) was more than the larger one (0.3 mm3 ) while the specifities were the same.

Conclusion: Both voxel sizes have a decent accuracy in detection of furcation defects. While the smaller voxel size was more sensitive in detection of furcation defects, considering the higher patient exposure to radiation, the use of smaller voxel sizes in detection of periodontal furcation defects by CBCT is only suggestable according to clinical judgement.