Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Cone beam computed tomography for dental and maxillofacial imaging: technique improvement and low-dose protocols

  • COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
  • Published:
La radiologia medica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate images quality and radiation doses of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) for dental and maxillofacial imaging testing five different acquisition protocols.

Methods

Dose measurements of different acquisition protocols were calculated for Pax Zenith three-dimensional (3D) Cone Beam (Vatech, Korea) and for conventional orthopantomography (OPT) and cephalometric skull imaging Ortophos (Sirona Dental Systems, Bernsheim, Germany). The absorbed organ doses were measured using an anthropomorphic phantom loaded with thermoluminescent dosimeters at 58 sites related to sensitive organs. Five different CBCT protocols were evaluated for image quality and radiation doses. They differed in FOV, image resolution, kVp, mA, acquisition time in seconds and radiation dose. Measurements were then carried out with the orthopantomograph. Equivalent and effective doses were calculated.

Results

The reference protocol with large FOV, high resolution quality images, 95 kVp, 5 mA and acquisition time of 24 s resulted in a DAP value of 1556 mGy cm2 instead the protocol with reduced kVp from 95 to 80 kVp translated into a value of DAP inferior to 35% (from 1556 to 1013 mGy cm2). Going from a high resolution to a normal resolution, there was a reduction of the acquisition time to 15 s which allowed further dose reduction of approximately 40% (628 mGy cm2); this protocol resulted in a value of effective dose of 35 microSievert (μSv). Moreover, the effect of changing FOV has been evaluated, considering two scans with a reduced FOV (160 × 140  and 120 × 90 mm, respectively).

Conclusions

CBCT low-dose protocol with large FOV, normal resolution quality images, 80 kVp, 5 mA and acquisition time of 15 s resulted in a value of effective dose of 35 microSievert (μSv). This protocol allows the study of maxillofacial region with high quality of images and a very low radiation dose and, therefore, could be proposed in selected case where a complete assessment of dental and maxillofacial region is useful for treatment planning.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cohnen M, Kemper J, Mobes O, Pawelzik J, Modder U (2002) Radiation dose in dental radiology. Eur Radiol 12:634–637

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Arai Y, Tammisalo E, Iwai K, Hashimoto K, Shinoda K (1999) Development of a compact computed tomographic apparatus for dental use. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 28:245–248 (PubMed Citation)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Mah JK, Danforth RA, Bumann A, Hatcher D (2003) Radiation absorbed in maxillofacial imaging with a new dental computed tomography device. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 96:508–513

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ludlow JB, Davies-Ludlow LE, Brooks SL (2003) Dosimetry of two extraoral direct digital imaging devices: newtom cone beam CT and orthophos plus DS panoramic unit. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 32:229–234

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Yammamoto K, Ueno K, Seo K, Shinohara D (2003) Development of dento-maxillofacial cone beam X-ray computed tomography system. Orthod Craniofac Res 6(Suppl 1):160–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Nakajima A, Sameshima GT, Arai Y, Homme Y, Shimizu N, Dougherty H (2005) Two- and three-dimensional orthodontic imaging using limited cone beam-computed tomography. Angle Orthod 75:895–903

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Honda K, Larheim TA, Matsumoto K, Iwai K (2006) Osseous abnormalities of the mandibular condyle: diagnostic reliability of cone beam computed tomography compared with helical computed tomography based on an autopsy material. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 35:152–157

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Tsilakis K, Syriopoulos K, Stamatakis HC (2004) Radiographic examination of the temporomandibular joint using cone beam computed tomography. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 33:196–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Maki K, Inou N, Takanishi A, Miller AJ (2003) Computer-assisted simulations in orthodontic diagnosis and the application of a new cone beam X-ray computed tomography. Orthod Craniofac Res 6(Suppl. 1):95–101

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ludlow JB, Ivanovic M (2008) Comparative dosimetry of dental CBCT devices and 64-slice CT for oral and maxillofacial radiology. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 106:106–114

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Rampado O, Bianchi SD, PeruzzoCornetto A, Rossetti V, Ropolo R (2014) Radiochromic films for dental CT dosimetry: a feasibility study. Phys Med 30(1):18–24. doi:10.1016/j.ejmp.2012.06.002

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Tapiovaara M, Lakkisto M, Servomaa A (1997) PCXMC-A PC-based Monte Carlo program for calculating patient doses in medical X-ray examinations. Finnish Centre for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (STUK), Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  13. Lofthag-Hansen S, Thilander-Klang A, Ekestubbe A, Helmrot E, Gröndahl K (2008) Calculating effective dose on a cone beam computed tomography device: 3D Accuitomo and 3D Accuitomo FPD. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 37(2):72–79

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. ICRP Pubblication 103 (2008) The 2007 recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Ann ICRP 37:2–4

    Google Scholar 

  15. European Commission (2012) Radiaton protection no. 172: cone beam CT for dental and maxillofacial Radiology. Evidence based guidelines. http://www.sedentexct.eu/files/radiation_protection_172.pdf

  16. Bianchi SD, Rampado O, Luberto L, Genovesio AF, Bianchi CC, Ropolo R (2005) Image quality analysis and low dose dental CT. Int Congr Ser 1281:1177–1181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Kapila S, Conley RS, Harrell WE (2011) The current status of cone beam computed tomography imaging in orthodontics. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 40:24–34

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. International Commission on Radiation Protection (1991) 1990 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, ICRP Publication 60. Ann ICRP 21:1–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University G. D’Annunzio, Via dei Vestini, 66100, Chieti, Italy

    Beatrice Feragalli, Monica Macrì, Felice Festa & Sergio Caputi

  2. Complex Structure Medical Physics, Scientific Institute Hospital “Città della Salute e della Scienza”, C.so Bramante, 88, 10126, Turin, Italy

    Osvaldo Rampado

  3. Department of Radiology, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto 1, 71100, Foggia, Italy

    Cecilia Abate & Giuseppe Guglielmi

  4. Department of Medical Physics, A.S.L. Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti, Chieti, Italy

    Francesco Stromei

  5. Department of Radiology, Scientific Institute Hospital “Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza”, Viale Cappuccini 1, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy

    Giuseppe Guglielmi

Authors
  1. Beatrice Feragalli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Osvaldo Rampado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cecilia Abate
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Monica Macrì
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Felice Festa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Francesco Stromei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Sergio Caputi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Giuseppe Guglielmi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giuseppe Guglielmi.

Ethics declarations

Funding

There are any source of funding or financial interest.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Ethical standards

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Feragalli, B., Rampado, O., Abate, C. et al. Cone beam computed tomography for dental and maxillofacial imaging: technique improvement and low-dose protocols. Radiol med 122, 581–588 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-017-0758-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-017-0758-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation