Masoud Davoudian
Abstract
Aim: The rapid evolution of digital radiographic systems and digital tracing software is having an impact on cephalometrics, slowly replacing traditional hand-tracing methods on hard copies of radiographic films. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the reliability and reproducibility ...
Read More
Aim: The rapid evolution of digital radiographic systems and digital tracing software is having an impact on cephalometrics, slowly replacing traditional hand-tracing methods on hard copies of radiographic films. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the reliability and reproducibility of digitization using Onyxceph imaging software (Version 2.6.14) with conventional manual techniques. Materials and methods: Thirty lateral cephalograms of an office patients previously treated, randomly selected and were evaluated by two methods: manual tracing and indirect digitization using Onyxceph imaging software (Version 2.6.14). Method error (reliability) using duplicate measurements for each method, and comparison of both techniques (reproducibility), were investigated using alternative statistical methods, paired t-test and pearson’s Correlation.
Results: All the measurements showed good reliability in both methods except for nasolabial angle in the manual method. Between the two methods, sum of posterior angles measurement had statistically significant difference.
Conclusions: Onyxceph tracing software (version 2.6.14) can be used instead of the time consuming conventional method for lateral cephalometric analysis with good accuracy.
Masoud Davoudian
Abstract
Introduction: Cephalometric radiographs have become an indispensable tool in the orthognathic setting. Traditionally, cephalometric images have been analyzed by manually tracing the radiograph, which was time-consuming. The development of computer technology has made digital tracing possible. The purpose ...
Read More
Introduction: Cephalometric radiographs have become an indispensable tool in the orthognathic setting. Traditionally, cephalometric images have been analyzed by manually tracing the radiograph, which was time-consuming. The development of computer technology has made digital tracing possible. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the reliability and reproducibility of digitization using Viewbox imaging software (version 3.0) with traditional manual technique.Materials and methods: The sample consisted of cephalograms from 30 randomly selected patients after orthodontic treatment. Twenty one cephalometric measurements calculated by 1 operator, both manually and with digital tracing software. Measurement error was assessed for each method by duplicating measurements of 15 randomly selected radiographs and by using Pearson's coefficient of determination. A paired t-test was used to detect differences between the manual and the digital method.Results: An overall greater variability in the digital cephalometric measurements was found. Differences between the two methods for saddle angle, gonial angle, nasolabial angle and upper lip to E line were statistically significant (P<0.05), but the last one showed a mean difference lower than two units.Conclusions: The two tracing methods provide accurate and similar clinical results except for some measurements, especially nasolabial angle; therefore, version 3.0 of this digital cephalometric software can be reliably chosen as a routine diagnostic tool with knowledge of its limited errors.
