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Published on: September 8, 2023
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[Evaluation of three methods for constructing craniofacial mid-sagittal plane based on the cone beam computed
1Department of Orthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
Summary
The interactive closest point (ICP) algorithm and a landmark-independent method accurately construct the mid-sagittal plane (MSP) for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) skull analysis. Procrustes analysis (PA) showed significant differences, making ICP suitable for clinical use in cases without evident asymmetry.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Orthodontics
- Computer-Aided Surgery
Background:
- Accurate construction of the mid-sagittal plane (MSP) is crucial for analyzing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and establishing coordinate systems.
- Traditional landmark-dependent methods for MSP determination can be subjective and time-consuming.
- Automated methods like Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm and Procrustes Analysis (PA) offer potential for objective and efficient MSP generation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the accuracy of the ICP algorithm, PA algorithm, and a landmark-independent method in constructing the MSP of 3D skulls from CBCT data.
- To evaluate the suitability of these methods for clinical applications in orthodontics and symmetric analysis.
- To provide a theoretical basis for establishing coordinate systems in CBCT imaging.
Main Methods:
- Three-dimensional (3D) skull models were reconstructed from CBCT scans of ten patients.
- The MSP was generated using the ICP algorithm, PA algorithm, and a landmark-independent method.
- Distances from anatomical landmarks to the generated MSPs were measured and statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and LSD tests to compare accuracy.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed in the distances from anatomical points to the MSPs generated by the three methods (F=10.932, P=0.001).
- No significant difference was found between the ICP algorithm and the landmark-independent method (P=0.11).
- The PA algorithm showed a significant difference compared to the landmark-independent method (P=0.01).
Conclusions:
- The ICP algorithm and landmark-independent methods are reliable for generating the MSP of 3D skulls from CBCT data.
- The ICP algorithm is feasible for clinical analysis, particularly in subjects without significant facial asymmetry.
- Procrustes analysis demonstrated lower accuracy compared to the other two methods for MSP construction in this study.
