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Updated: Aug 7, 2025
Measuring the Complete-arch Distortion of an Optical Dental Impression
Published on: May 30, 2019
Automated measurement for image distortion analysis in 2D panoramic imaging of dental CBCT system: A phantom study
J A Rabba1, F M Suhaimi2, M Z Mat Jafri3
1Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 13200 Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia; Department of Physics, Federal University Lokoja, PMB 1154 Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria.
Introduction:
The daily image quality assessment involves large datasets that consume a lot of time and effort. This study aims to evaluate a proposed automated calculator for image distortion analysis in 2-dimensional (2D) panoramic imaging mode for a dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) system in comparison with present manual calculations.
Methods:
A ball phantom was scanned using panoramic mode of the Planmeca ProMax 3D Mid CBCT unit (Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland) with standard exposure settings used in clinical practice (60 kV, 2 mA, and maximum FOV). An automated calculator algorithm was developed in MATLAB platform. Two parameters associated with panoramic image distortion such as balls diameter and distance between middle and tenth balls were measured. These automated measurements were compared with manual measurement using the Planmeca Romexis and ImageJ software.
Results:
The findings showed smaller deviation in distance difference measurements by proposed automated calculator (ranged 3.83 mm) as compared to manual measurements (ranged 5.00 for Romexis and 5.12 mm for ImageJ software). There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) on the mean measured ball diameter between automated and manual measurement. For ball diameter measurement, there is a moderate positive correlation between automated measurement with the manual measurements (r = 0.6024 and r = 0.6358 for Romexis and ImageJ, respectively). However, there is a negative correlation between automated measurement for the distance difference with manual methods (r = -0.3484 and r = -0.3494 for Romexis and ImageJ, respectively). There was a good approximation between automated and ImageJ measurement of ball diameter in comparison to reference value.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the proposed automated calculator provides faster method with an accurate and acceptable results for daily-basis image quality test in dental panoramic mode of a Dental CBCT imaging system in comparison to current manual method.
Implications For Practice:
An automated calculator is recommended for image distortion analysis on phantom images in routine image quality assessment for dental panoramic mode of Dental CBCT imaging system that may involve analysis of large image datasets. It offers improvement in routine image quality practice in term of time and accuracy.
