Validation of computed tomography protocols for simulated mandibular lesions: a comparison study

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Oncology

Background:

• Computed tomography (CT) is crucial for evaluating oral and maxillofacial osseous lesions.
• CT offers excellent anatomical resolution, visualizing hard and soft tissues without superimposition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the diagnostic validity of two axial CT protocols for simulated mandibular lesions.
• To determine the influence of CT acquisition parameters on lesion detection and characterization.

Main Methods:

• Simulated mandibular lesions were created in dry mandibles.
• Two distinct CT protocols were employed for image acquisition.
• Calibrated observers evaluated lesion detection, number of loci, and medullar invasion.

Main Results:

• Both CT protocols achieved 100% sensitivity and specificity for general lesion detection.
• Detection of multilocular lesion loci and medullar invasion showed reduced validity.
• Thinner axial slices and reconstructions demonstrated superior performance for early medullar invasion and loci detection.

Conclusions:

• CT is a valuable tool for oral and maxillofacial osseous lesions.
• Thinner axial CT slices and reconstructions are more effective for detecting early medullar invasion and complex lesion characteristics.
• Thicker CT protocols are less suitable for evaluating multilocular lesions and early medullar invasion.