PUPOSE: Radiography of intrabony lesions serves as a tool fordifferential diagnosis, lesion extension, suggestion for site of biopsy and follow up. These indications can be met by 3D imaging. The high radiation of Multi-Detector Computerized Tomography (MDCT), urges the need for an alternative, low-dose imaging, especially in children. The aim of this research was to compare the diagnostic quality of Cone Beam CT (CBCT) imaging with MDCT.
MATERIAL & METHODS:Retrospective analysis of 30 cases of children and adolescence (< 20) who underwent CBCT and/or MDCT was conducted. Images were anonymized and randomly reviewed by 3 pre-calibrated observers using questionnaire for various radiographic features including: field of view parameters, inclusion of lesion in scan region, pathological borders, effect on surrounding structure, soft tissue involvement and lesion size.
RESULTS: CBCT showed adequate performance in demonstrating essential radiographic features of intrabony lesions. Soft tissue involvement was suspected in the minority of cases.
CONCLUSION: Our study was limited due to small sample size. Yet, our results show that CBCT provides adequate radiographic features for intrabony jaw pathologies, compared to MDCT, especially in children, due to its reduced radiation dose. Pathologies with suspected soft tissue involvement, should have supplementary imaged using MRI.