Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 3, 2025
Making MR Imaging Child's Play - Pediatric Neuroimaging Protocol, Guidelines and Procedure
Published on: July 30, 2009
Head motion and perception of discomfort by young children during simulated CBCT examinations
Rubens Spin-Neto1, Louise Hauge Matzen1, Louise Hermann1
1Oral Radiology, Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Insights
Patient positioning and head immobilization during pediatric CBCT scans significantly impact head movement. Supine positioning with a foam headrest reduced severe motion, especially in younger children.
Area of Science:
- Radiology and Imaging
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Medical Physics
Background:
- Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is crucial in pediatric dentistry.
- Minimizing patient movement during CBCT acquisition is vital for diagnostic image quality.
- Understanding factors influencing head movement in children during CBCT is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate head movement characteristics and discomfort in children during simulated CBCT exams.
- To compare different CBCT units based on patient positioning and head immobilization.
Main Methods:
- Forty children (10-14 years) underwent simulated CBCT on five different units.
- Video recordings captured head movements (number, complexity, distance).
- Children reported discomfort; observers assessed movement severity.
Main Results:
- Severe/extreme motion occurred in 60-100% of children, varying by unit.
- Supine positioning with a foam headrest significantly reduced severe motion.
- Younger children exhibited a higher risk of severe motion.
Conclusions:
- CBCT unit design, specifically patient positioning and head immobilization, influences motion artifact prevalence.
- Child age is a significant factor in head movement during CBCT.
- Supine positioning with headrest support is preferable for pediatric CBCT examinations.
Objectives:
To assess the frequency and characteristics (number, complexity, and distance) of head movements, and the perception of discomfort during simulated CBCT examinations in children, considering units with different patient positioning method and head immobilization device combinations.
Methods:
Forty children (20 boys/20 girls, age range 10-14 years) were video-recorded during simulated CBCT examinations. Children were randomly allocated to a sequence of five CBCT units: Newtom-5G, Orthophos-SL, Cranex-3Dx (patient standing/sitting), and X1. The child scored his/her discomfort perception (visual scale) and the preferred/ill-favored unit. Three observers scored the videos (20% in duplicate): child movement (yes/no), number (<3/≥3/continuous), complexity (uniplanar/multiplanar) and distance (<3 mm/≥3 mm). κ statistics provided intra-/interobserver reproducibility. Severe/extreme motion was defined based on movement characteristics. Chi-square tests assessed the frequency differences of severe/extreme motion among the units, age and operator. Logistic regression analyses with severe/extreme motion as outcome were performed.
Results:
The range of intra- and inter-observer reproducibility for movement observation was 0.78-0.89 and 0.61-0.64, respectively. Between 60% (Newtom-5G) and 100% (X1) of children moved during the examination. Severe/extreme motion was significantly related to unit and age. There was significantly less severe/extreme motion, when the child was in the supine position with a foam headrest as head support. The younger the child, the higher the risk for severe/extreme motion. The majority of the children preferred the unit with the supine position and a foam headrest.
Conclusions:
The prevalence of severe and extreme motion was associated with the unit's patient positioning method and head immobilization devices combined, and child age.
