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Measurement accuracy in cone beam computed tomography in the presence of metal artifact

University of British Columbia

Purpose: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) image quality is known to be affected by artifacts produced by metal restorations, causing image deterioration via bright streaks and loss of gray values in the vicinity of the metallic structure. The aim of the study is to determine the impact of progressively increasing metal artifacts on the measurement accuracy of commonly evaluated points in implant treatment planning. Methods: Holes were drilled into porcine mandibles at known distances from the alveolar crest on the buccal and lingual surfaces and filled with gutta percha. Repeated CBCT images were taken, with progressively increasing amalgam restorations and stainless-steel crowns (up to a total of 8 restorations per jaw). The imaging field of view (FOV) was of a single site (5x5cm) in 2 different locations in the mandible, as well as a full arch FOV (10x5cm). Measurement between the buccal and lingual gutta percha points on the mandible was performed using a digital caliper to establish the difference between caliper measurements compared to the same measurements taken digitally on the CBCT images. Measurements were compared under conditions with no restorations and with increasing numbers of restorations. Results: Comparison between caliper measurements and baseline CBCT with no metal artifact demonstrated differences ranging from 0-1.7 mm. This range of variation appears to be consistent even with increasing metal artifact, with no clear detectable pattern of change. When compared to baseline measurements, scans with amalgam and stainless-steel restorations showed a maximum difference of 0.54 ± 0.64 mm and 0.62 ± 0.64 mm respectively. The change in measurements was not found to be significantly different with increasing metal restorations. Conclusions: There may be a variation of up to 1.7 mm between measured anatomical points and CBCT imaging under commonly used settings. While this result may be clinically important, it does not appear to be affected by increasing metal artifact due to amalgam restorations or stainless-steel crowns. The findings of this study support current clinical practices accounting for a safety margin of up to 2 mm with any CBCT image, and not limiting CBCT scans for patients with multiple metal restorations.

Text

2020-07-14

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/75162

Craniofacial Science

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/