Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Mandibular Cortical Index (MCI) is useful in osteoporosis screening. This study aim was to verify the impact of different expertise levels in the observers’ performances of MCI evaluation in panoramic radiographs (PR).METHODS: Six participants were recruited: one Oral Radiology professor with previous experience (#1), one master’s degree student and radiologist with previous experience (#2), one PhD student and non-radiologist with previous experience (#3), one PhD student and radiologist with no prior experience (#4) and two master’s degree students with no prior experience (#5 and #6). Observers were trained to use the MCI before analyzing 150 PRs of patients with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examination.RESULTS: The Spearman’s Correlation test showed inverse and weak to moderate correlation between MCI and T-scores, and it varied was according to the observe that performed the evaluation. Observers #2 and #3 (with previous MCI experience) showed the highest agreement with the professor, followed by students #4, #5 and #6.CONCLUSION: Students’ expertise using the MCI increased the agreement with the professor regardless of whether the student was an oral radiology specialist; the MCI was correlated with the DXA in all the observer’s evaluations, which indicates that previous training for the MCI can enable any dentist to apply it in osteoporosis screening.
Highlights
Osteoporosis is an osteometabolic disease of chronic and systemic characteristics
Students’ expertise using the Mandibular Cortical Index (MCI) increased the agreement with the professor regardless of whether the student was an oral radiology specialist; the MCI was correlated with the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in all the observer’s evaluations, which indicates that previous training for the MCI can enable any dentist to apply it in osteoporosis screening
O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o impacto de diferentes níveis de conhecimento e formação no desempenho de observadores na aplicação do ICM em radiografias panorâmicas (RP)
Summary
Osteoporosis is an osteometabolic disease of chronic and systemic characteristics. Its progression results in the deterioration of bone microarchitecture and reduction of the bone mineral density (BMD) [1]. Osteoporosis affects mostly postmenopausal women [2], it can affect men [3] and patients with diseases in the bone metabolism [4]. The main consequences of osteoporosis are osteoporotic or low-impact fractures [5], whose more frequent sites are the hip and the forearm [6], Such fractures can progress to morbidity and mortality, and it represents high costs to the health system [7]. The most reliable tool for diagnosis of osteoporosis is the DXA examination which shows quantitative measurement of BMD [8]. A bone fracture can be considered an osteoporosis signal, but, when it occurs, it comes down to the diagnosis done belatedly [11]. Screening tools for osteoporosis were developed to identify potential individuals that need to be referred for DXA exam [12]
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