Abstract
Objective: to evaluate the frequency of bone alterations in temporomandibular joints (TMJ) in of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, with dental implats planning purpose. Material and Methods: 148 cone beam exames were selected from the file of the Radiology Clinic ICT UNESP. All the images were performed by Next Generation i-CAT (Imaging Sciences Ltda, Hatfield, PA, USA) scanner, using voxel of 0.20/0.25 mm and FOV of 16.0 x 13.0 cm for dental implants planning. All the images should show both (rigth and left) TMJ condyle. The TMJ condyle were reformated using TMJ protocol, with parassagital slices, perpendicular to the long axis of TMJ condyle, in order to study presence of the following bone alterations: osteophytes, erosion, flatenning, bone sclerosis and cortical thinning. Results: The results showed that 63.51% of the sample belonged to female and 36.49% to male. In addition, it was noted that the most frequent bone alterations in condyle were osteophytes (56.75%) and flatening (55.4%). The erosion was the alteration with lower frequency (0,67%). The statistic test of Mcnemar showed that there was relationship between flatening and erosion, flatening and bone sclerosis, flatening and cortical thinning, erosion and osteophytes, bone sclerosis and cortical thinning (p<0.0001), in both sides. There was no relationship between flatening and osteophytes, erosion and bone sclerosis, erosion and cortical thinning (p>0.01). Conclusion: the hight frequency of bone alterations findings in TMJ condyle was an indicator of the importance of the analysis of all the structures present in the CBCT FOV, regardless its indication.
Highlights
C Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a imaging method with many advantages, among which the high level of spacial resolution of bone tissues; possibility of multiplanar cuts without superpositions; and obtainment of accurate measurements on the images with real distances between important anatomic structures of maxillofacial complex[1,2]
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of different incidental bone changes in the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) in CBCT examinations with strict indication for planning dental implants, to emphasize the importance of a comprehensive analysis of all listed structures, regardless of specific indication on examination
The results indicated that considering the presence of flattening, this was related with erosion (p
Summary
C Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a imaging method with many advantages, among which the high level of spacial resolution of bone tissues; possibility of multiplanar cuts without superpositions; and obtainment of accurate measurements on the images with real distances between important anatomic structures of maxillofacial complex[1,2]. The main CBCT characteristicis the principle for acquisition of images in which a volume of the face (usually cylindrical) is acquired by the device and reconstructed by the computer and displayed in cuts or anatomical sections. This volume is referred to as Field of View (FOV)and may vary from device to device or even inside the device itself, according to the region of interest sought for study. A larger FOV enables a broader analysis of the maxillofacial complex, but the irradiated area is increased and the patient will be subjected to a higher radiation dose [5]
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