Extraoral control of geometry for digital subtraction radiography

Algorithm for the automated alignment of radiographs for image subtraction

The results of this study indicate that automated alignment of pairs of radiographs produces subtractions that are indistinguishable in quality from subtractions aligned manually by an experienced aligner. In developing the algorithm for automated alignment, care was taken that the criteria used for establishing a window appropriate for testing the quality of alignment were the same for both alignment techniques.

Oral imaging as a diagnostic tool for assessing osseous changes

Practical use of images for diagnosis of osseous abnormalities presumes cost-effective technology that targets known physiologic processes. The most obvious modalities for such applications are radiographic, and the newest are characterized by quantitative methods expressed both tomographically and by means of digital subtraction registered in two and three dimensions. Quantitative nuclear medicine and possibly electron spin resonance spectroscopy also appear promising. New analytic techniques for interpreting osseous images include characterization of trabecular patterns by fractal descriptors and micromorphometry.

Effects of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on bone loss in chronic inflammatory disease

Several controlled clinical trials have indicated that nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs may slow alveolar bone loss in periodontitis. Demonstration of this efficacy is dependent on the development of accurate, sensitive, and specific quantitative methods for the assessment of bony change, such as digital subtraction radiography. Further studies of such methodologies are required to more fully investigate the effect of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in rheumatoid arthritis.

Efficacy of meclofenamate sodium (Meclomen) in the treatment of rapidly progressive periodontitis

This 6-month, double-blind, controlled clinical trial determined the efficacy of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, meclofenamate sodium (Meclomen), as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in the treatment of rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP). 22 subjects (7 male, 15 female) aged 36.5 +/- 7.88 years with RPP and disease-active sites as determined by pretreatment bone scan had standardized radiographs at baseline and 6 months, and clinical measurements at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Following full-mouth scaling and root planing, subjects were randomly assigned to either a placebo, 50 or 100 mg meclofenamate sodium bid group. Bone change over the 6-month period as assessed by subtraction radiography was the primary efficacy determinant. Specialized software was used to isolate the lesion from the subtraction image and to measure bone change along the root surface. ANOVA using the subject as the unit of analysis revealed a significant dose response (p < 0.001) with the placebo group having a mean bone loss of 0.42 +/- 0.06 mm and the low and high dose groups having mean bone gains of 0.07 +/- 0.05 and 0.20 +/- 0.07 mm, respectively. These findings indicate that meclofenamate sodium may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of rapidly progressive periodontitis.

Healing in periodontal defects treated by decalcified freeze-dried bone allografts in combination with ePTFE membranes. Assessment by computerized densitometric analysis

This study quantitatively assessed radiographic changes in alveolar bone density by computer-assisted densitometric image analysis (CADIA) in periodontal defects that were treated with decalcified freeze dried bone allograft (DFDBA) alone or in combination with interproximal expanded polytetrafluroethylene membranes (ePTFE). The radiographic changes where then analyzed for correlation with the clinically assessed changes. The radiographic changes were evaluated on standardized radiographs of treated sites treated prior to, 1 week after surgery, and 6 months post-operatively. 15 patients with one pair of bilateral interproximal periodontal defects of similar morphology and > or = 6 mm in pocket depth participated. Analysis of the changes 6 months after treatment showed that the increases in density in the defect areas that received the graft were significantly greater than the adjacent areas (p < 0.001). These adjacent areas, in contrast, demonstrated significantly larger loss in radiographic density than the defect area (p < 0.001). The placement of DFDBA into the defects produced in itself significant increases in radiographic density, as illustrated by the results of one week which remained at six months. Utilization of ePTFE addition to DFDBA did not lead to additional radiographic gains in the defect area. While at one week the analysis suggested increased resorption by the combined treatment over grafting alone, such differences did not persist at 6 months post-surgery. Analysis comparing CADIA derived values for change with those of the clinical assessment revealed some associations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Digital subtraction radiography for longitudinal assessment of peri-implant bone change: method and validation

The purpose of this paper is to present a digital subtraction technique for the assessment of peri-implant bone change over time in vivo. Digital subtraction radiography may be used to detect areas of bony change that have occurred between radiographic examinations, and image processing algorithms have been developed which can relate the magnitude of the change on the subtraction image to a reference wedge, thereby allowing calculation of the mass of the lesion. This manuscript will present two algorithms for the assessment of osseous change. The method was validated in monkeys by means of small bony chips placed intra-orally prior to the first radiograph. The chips were removed, a second radiograph taken, and the images subtracted. Each algorithm was used to isolate the lesion and calculate change in bone mass. Overall, there was excellent correlation between the calculated lesion mass (in milligrams) and actual lesion mass (r2 > 0.9). The utility of the method was demonstrated by comparison of the results of subtraction radiography in successful implants and in implants that did not integrate during the healing phase.

Modern radiographic methods in the diagnosis of periodontal disease

For many years, radiographs have been a valuable aid in the diagnosis of periodontal disease and the evaluation of treatment effects. Computer-based image acquisition and processing techniques will now further increase the importance of radiography in periodontal diagnosis. Temporal changes of lesions can be made easily visible by means of subtraction radiography based on digital images. This process requires a pair of images with identical gray-level distributions and projection geometry. The gray-level distribution and perspective projection of images can be corrected by means of digital image processing. A pair of identical images can thus be obtained without mechanical alignment of patient, film, and x-ray source. Algorithms have been developed for automatical determination of the borders of lesions and can subsequently produce quantitative information ranging from simple distance measurements to advanced multidimensional quantitation of image parameters. Accurate volume measurements can be carried out by the utilization of calibration wedges in the image. Image reconstruction procedures, such as tomosynthesis, provide information about the third dimension, which is normally lost in conventional radiographic projections. The buccal and lingual sites of the alveolar crest can be inspected separately. The progress of computer-aided procedures as discussed in this paper appears to have great potential for the improvement of the radiographic diagnosis of periodontal lesions. Especially, the benefits of reproducibility and quantitative evaluation of treatment effects will greatly improve the role of radiography in periodontics.

An in vitro study of the characteristics of a computer-aided radiographic evaluation (CARE) system for longitudinal assessment of density changes

In recent years, several systems for computerized analysis of radiographs have been introduced, most of which use digital conversion of the image followed by subtraction of consecutive images to assess changes. This paper introduces a computer-based qualitative and quantitative radiographic evaluation system based on the CADIA algorithm. Problems associated with computerized radiographic analysis are discussed and evaluation criteria for this type of system are suggested. These criteria include evaluation of system noise and threshold setting, reproducibility, and establishment of the system working curve (validity). The CARE system noise ranged from a -10 to +10 CADIA value and the threshold was set on 13 for all measurements. The reproducibility was high, both for the radiographic technique and for repeated measurements. The working curve was established and showed the system's ability to detect small density changes of 0.048 O.D. which corresponds to 0.27 mm of aluminium thickness or compact bone equivalent. The linear range of the curve was between 0.7 and 1.8 O.D. By controlling the exposure parameters it was possible to work within the linear range of the curve. Based on these evaluation criteria, the CARE system can be used to quantitatively evaluate small density changes on sequential radiographs for early detection of caries and periodontal disease.

New technologies for the diagnosis of periodontal disease

Historically the initial onset of periodontal disease in an individual was considered slow but continuously progressive over time. It was inferred that an individual would experience progressive destruction of the attachment structures until edentulous. However, several studies in the early 1970s contested the traditional concept of continuous disease progression. These studies suggested that periodontal disease progressed by recurrent acute episodes. In specific individuals, the loss of attachment was faster than the concept of slowly progressing disease. There were also sites in patients that progressed slower (or not at all) than anticipated on the basis of radiographic and clinical history of previous disease progression. These findings clearly indicated the need to explore the nature of periodontal disease progression and to institute a major effort into innovative methods to diagnose periodontal diseases. Dentists and researchers could more effectively prevent and treat periodontal disease and relate pertinent research findings to specific disease initiation and progression.

A comparison of two registration techniques for digital subtraction radiography

The dental radiograph is a diagnostic tool that is used to view internal structures without any invasive procedures. A difference radiograph, i.e. one showing the changes that occurred over time, is the best tool for diagnosing slow or small changes. The difficulty in creating a meaningful difference radiograph, or its digital image, is that the imaging geometry of the image pair must be identical. This paper addresses the problem of reproducing imaging geometry. A new technique for registering digital images of radiographs based on the correspondence of 3D anatomical structures (such as root apices and the cemento-enamel junction) was compared with a registration method using occlusal stents. In a pilot study of 30 volunteers, difference images were created by three different registration techniques (no registration, mathematical methods and occlusal stents). The standard deviations of the difference images were used to compare the registration techniques. The results show that this new mathematical technique applied to digital images of radiographs can be used to establish correspondence between pairs of clinical images taken at different projection angles and to produce reconstructed images comparable with images taken with occlusal stents.

Changes in inflammatory mediators in experimental periodontitis in the rhesus monkey

Ligature-induced periodontitis was monitored for 6 months in eight Macaca mulatta monkeys to examine clinical status, radiographic bone level, and crevicular fluid (CF) levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), thromboxane B2 (TxB2), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha, and leukotriene B4 (LTB4). A split-mouth design was used, with eight ligated teeth and eight contralateral nonligated teeth which develop soft-chow-promoted (spontaneous) disease. Ligated sites experienced an average attachment loss of 0.94 mm per site and linear bone loss of 0.88 mm per site, with spontaneous-periodontitis sites experiencing approximately half the loss of ligated sites. The CF mediator levels showed increased levels of PGE2 and TxB2 at the ligated sites, as compared with the spontaneous sites, with no significant contralateral differences in the IL-1 beta or LTB4 responses. The concentrations of LTB4 in CF reached an early threefold peak over the baseline level at 1 month. By 2 months there was a statistically significant threefold elevation in CF-PGE2 in the ligated sites and a twofold elevation in the spontaneous sites as compared to the baseline level (P = 0.041 and 0.008, respectively). The monocyte product IL-1 beta increased sharply at 2 months and returned to the baseline level by 6 months at both ligated and nonligated sites. Tumor necrosis factor alpha in CF was below the limit of detection at all sites throughout the experiment (i.e., < 2 ng/ml). The selective elevation of both PGE2 and TxB2 in ligated sites, compared with levels in spontaneous sites, in the presence of similar levels of LTB4 and IL-1 beta provides further evidence that these molecules regulate the magnitude of the tissue-destructive response in progressive periodontitis.

Periodontal regeneration of human infrabony defects. III. Diagnostic strategies to detect bone gain

Assessment of actual treatment outcome by simple and available diagnostic tests represents an important aspect in the evaluation of periodontal regenerative procedures. This report focuses on the diagnostic accuracy of different strategies to detect the original extent of bone loss and bone gain in deep vertical defects following guided tissue regeneration. Characteristics of probing attachment level and radiographic bone linear measurements were compared to a gold standard obtained as intrasurgical clinical measurements at baseline and at the 1 year re-entry operation. Radiographic linear measurements underestimated bone loss (CEJ-BD) in 55% of cases while the estimate was within 1 mm in 25% of cases. The goodness of agreement could be significantly described by a general linear model incorporating measures of defect morphology. The original level of bone loss could be best detected by an approach which consisted of adding 1.5 mm to the measured attachment level loss. Such an approach correctly estimated bone loss within 1 mm in 85% of sites. In terms of ability to detect bone gain, radiographic measurements underestimated bone gain in 55% and overestimated it in 15% of sites. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed at different threshold values of true gain. The sensitivity and specificity plots intersected at a threshold value of 2.7 mm bone gain. Conversely, measures of probing attachment level gain agreed with the gold standard within 1 mm 45% of times. Intersection of the specificity and sensitivity plots occurred at 3 mm. Classification tables are presented for both diagnostic tests at different threshold values.2+é

Assessing condylar changes with digital subtraction radiography

Transcranial radiographs of the temporomandibular joint with and without simulated pathology were compared with digital subtracted and histogram equalized images of the same joints. Subtracted images had specificity and sensitivity values of 0.83 and 0.76 respectively, compared with values of 0.42 and 0.54 for conventional radiographs. It was concluded that digital subtraction radiography has the potential to increase the diagnostic yield of transcranial temporomandibular radiography for bony changes to the condylar head.

Alignment errors in bitewing radiographs using uncoupled positioning devices

Errors in X-ray beam alignment account for many of the exposure errors in bitewing radiography. A new method for measuring these alignment errors is described. The alignment accuracy of two different models of inexpensive plastic positioning devices, used for bitewing radiography, were quantified and compared. The technique involves documenting the alignment of an 'ideal' reference radiograph and successive exposures. It permits calculation of X-ray beam-film alignment errors in all subsequent radiographs using the 'ideal' reference. Bitewing radiographs were taken on 61 patients and 19 of these were re-radiographed at 6-month intervals over a 2-year period, providing a total of 156 radiographs for the study. Horizontal and vertical angular deviations were measured and total alignment errors calculated for each radiograph. The average angular alignment error was less than 2 degrees total angular error (1.3-2.4 degrees, 95% confidence intervals). It is concluded that these devices can be used when X-ray beam-film alignment error below 2.5 degrees is acceptable.

Radiographic methods in the evaluation of periodontal therapy

Radiographic methods are commonly utilized to assess periodontal bone changes in clinical trials. Radiographs are unique as a data source in that they provide a permanent visual record of the bone support and allow for linear, area, and volume measurements of periodontal lesions. The major limiting factors in the use of radiographic outcomes measures are geometric distortion and radiographic processing errors. The use of standardized methods and computer algorithms has reduced the effect of these errors on data from radiographs. Radiographic analysis in clinical trials is largely done in digital format by indirect digitizing film with a video camera. Direct digital detectors are now available for intra-oral use. The use of a direct detector eliminates the need for film processing and allows for dose reduction. The detectors currently available are limited in size and resolution. Subtraction radiography allows for area and volume estimates of bone gain or loss. The subtraction methods are highly precise, but are also technically exacting and labor intensive. The clinical trial hypothesis, size, length, and accuracy required should be the final consideration in choosing a radiographic method.

Digital radiology for implant treatment planning and evaluation

Digital radiology has provided the clinician with the ability to store and manipulate radiographic information. The purpose of this paper is to present two applications of digital imaging to implantology. The first application is a personal computer-based imaging technique which can be used to plan the placement of endosseous dental implants using three-dimensional computed tomography images obtained with commercial software. The second application uses digital subtraction radiography to assess longitudinal bony change around dental implants.

Dental implants: a review

The present article is a review presenting an update on the field of dental implants since the World Workshop in Clinical Periodontics in July 1989. Areas that are discussed include following: 1. Biomaterials and the implant interface, and the interaction of these with the environment. 2. Periodontal considerations including data supporting a perimucosal seal of implant to soft tissue and discussion of the endosseous interface between the bone and the implant. 3. Newer techniques of diagnostic imaging and their determination of bone types are related to the future practice of dental implants. 4. Implant selection and the surgical techniques involved in implant placement. 5. Current ideas of implant prosthodontics, implant maintenance, and the treatment of implant failures. 6. Finally, the use of dental implants in the United States and Sweden.

Subtraction radiography of interradicular bone lesions

Subtraction and conventional radiography were evaluated for their diagnostic potential to assess interradicular bone lesions in the mandibular premolar region. Both conventional radiographs and subtraction images were interpreted by 10 observers. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) technique was used to compare the two techniques. The diagnostic validity was higher for the subtraction technique, both for lesions confined to cancellous bone and for lesions including the cortical bone, than for the conventional technique. For bone defects confined to cancellous bone the diagnostic accuracy was lower than those reported from periapical bone lesions irrespective of whether subtraction or conventional radiography was used. We conclude that subtraction radiography improves the detectability of bone lesions, shallow ones in particular. Lesions in the interradicular bone are more difficult to detect than those in the periapical bone.

Gingivectomy versus flap surgery: the effect of the treatment of infrabony defects. A clinical and radiographic study

The aim of this paper was to compare the short-term results of gingivectomy (GV) and modified Widman flap (MWF) surgery in the treatment of infrabony defects. 14 patients with 68 bilateral infrabony defects were selected. At baseline, and 3 and 6 months postoperatively, assessments of oral hygiene, gingival conditions, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth and attachment level, were recorded. Conventional radiograps were obtained in a way that assured a reproducible projection geometry. In a split-mouth design, one jaw quadrant was randomly treated with GV, while the contralateral with a MWF. The changes of the bone tissue were assessed by means of conventional and subtraction images by 2 observers. The interobserver agreement of the conventional and subtraction technique was studied. The majority of the sites demonstrated a significant improvement in gingival conditions and a reduction in bleeding. For both treatments, probing depths were reduced by an average of 3 mm, while a mean of 1.22-1.35 mm of probing attachment gain was obtained. The GV resulted in slightly more gingival recession (1.90 mm) than the MWF (1.60 mm). The radiographic examination demonstrated gain of bone in 7 defects treated with GV and in 9 defects treated with MWF. This study demonstrated that pockets associated with infrabony defects can be successfully treated by both treatment modalities. Furthermore, bone gain can occur after treatment but not in a predictable manner.

Recognizing invariant geometric structure in dental radiographs

The dental radiograph is a non-invasive tool that is used to view internal structures for the diagnosis of caries, periapical lesions and periodontal disease. The requirement for a standardized image is most prominent in periodontal disease since the diagnosis is best done with a difference radiograph. The difficulty is that exact registration for subtraction requires exact reproduction of imaging geometry. A new model of imaging geometry, based on the correspondence of 3D structures, to describe the radiograph formation process is presented. The experimental results show that 3D measurements can be made in dental radiographs (P < 0.01) with up to 16-mm translation errors and angulation errors of up to 32 degrees.

Computerized methodology for detection of alveolar crestal bone loss from serial intraoral radiographs

The aim of this study was to develop a computerized measurement system for analysis of unstandardized serial radiographic images. A new approach for estimating the error associated with the determination of alveolar crest loss is described. The study shows that a difference of 0.87 mm in cemento-enamel junction-crest measurement between unstandardized serial radiographs taken within accepted clinic routine is required for a significant loss in crestal bone height. The ability to detect with significance a difference of less than 1 mm in crestal bone height makes the appropriate use of traditional bite-wing radiographs a useful diagnostic tool for the assessment of periodontal maintenance.

Assessment of external root resorption using digital subtraction radiography

Digital subtraction radiography was investigated for its capability to detect and quantify experimentally produced external root resorptive defects in teeth. Using a long source to object X-ray technique and E-speed film, serial radiographs of teeth with artificial lesions in a dry human skull (soft tissue simulated) were obtained. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance for each imaging system (conventional versus subtraction). To explore the quantitative assessment potential of digital subtraction radiography, images were produced after sequential demineralization by HCl. The acid solution was analyzed for calcium concentration by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Three-dimensional histogram quantification for each subtracted image was performed. In overall performance for detecting experimentally produced external root resorption, digital subtraction radiography was found to be significantly superior to conventional radiography. In addition, digital subtraction radiography can provide quantification of experimentally produced external root resorptive defects.

Radiographic methods for the detection of progressive alveolar bone loss

Intraoral transmission radiographs have been the primary diagnostic method for the assessment of bone support as well as for the detection and measurement of osseous changes due to periodontitis. The purpose of the present paper is three-fold. The first is to review radiographic techniques for the assessment of periodontal disease progression, presenting the strengths and weaknesses of each method while placing special emphasis on digital subtraction radiography. The second purpose is to present data from a recent study that compared the ability of digital subtraction radiography and automated attachment level probing to detect the same active sites. Thirty periodontitis patients and eight control patients were studied over a 6-month period. The results indicate that when these two sensitive methods for the assessment of progressive periodontitis were used there was concordance between the presence or absence of probing attachment loss and bone loss in 82.1% of the sites. The final goal of this paper is to present future directions for the quantitative analysis of digital radiographic images.

Digital subtraction radiography in assessing bone changes in periodontal defects following guided tissue regeneration

19 patients with a total of 23 periodontal lesions were selected for the study. Following flap-elevation, an occlusive membrane (Gore Tex) adjusted to the size and shape of the lesion was applied. The membrane was removed 4-6 weeks later by a 2nd operation. Clinical attachment levels were measured and intraoral radiographs taken prior to surgery, and 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The root length and marginal bone level were measured on paper drawings of the teeth magnified (15x) from the conventional radiographs. The radiographs were digitized for analysis of the subtraction images between the preoperative and the 6- and 12-month postoperative images. Clinical attachment gain was seen in 78% of the teeth after 6 months and 70% after 12 months. Bone gain was recorded in 56% and 22% after 6 months and in 44% and 66% after 12 months by conventional and digital subtraction radiography, respectively. The bone level measurements on conventional radiographs differed significantly (p = 0.001) between the preoperative and 6-month postoperative, but not between the 6- and 12-month, (p = 0.29) conventional radiographs. There was no significant relationship between the clinical measurements and the assessments of bone changes on conventional radiographs (r = 0.28, p = 0.25), while a stronger relationship was observed between assessment of clinical attachment gain and assessment of bone changes on the subtraction images (r = 0.58, p = 0.01).

Comparison of photodensitometric with high-resolution digital analysis of bone density from serial dental radiographs

Photodensitometry is known to provide high spatial resolution and continuous measurement of optical density for the analysis of dental radiographs, whereas digitization allows powerful image manipulations but, when using conventional video cameras, gives less spatial resolution and fewer grey levels. The aim of this study was therefore to develop a technique of high-resolution digital analysis for the measurement of bone density following the same principles as those of photodensitometry and based upon the use of a CCD Scanner Camera which provides up to 4096 grey levels and a spatial resolution of 4096 x 4096 pixels. Twenty-four zones were analysed with both techniques in five serial dental radiographs taken before and after periodontal therapy in eight patients. Statistical comparison of the results obtained by digital analysis and photodensitometry shows that the two techniques have the same accuracy.

Use of digital radiography to demonstrate the potential of naproxen as an adjunct in the treatment of rapidly progressive periodontitis

The effect of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, naproxen, in reducing periodontal disease activity was assessed in 15 patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis. All patients in this double-blind study were treated with scaling and root planing. Thereafter, 7 patients receiving 500 mg naproxen b.i.d. for 3 months, and 8 patients received placebo. Disease activity was assessed in three ways. First, alveolar bone height was determined using standardized radiography. Second, alterations in alveolar bone metabolism were assessed using 99m-Tc-methylene diphosphonate uptake prior to dosing and 3 months later. Finally, bone loss or gain was detected using digital subtraction radiography. In this study, conventional subtraction images were processed to isolate the area of change and superimpose the change on the original radiograph. This allowed determination of both the direction and location of osseous changes. There was significantly less bone loss as determined by analysis of bone height during the 3-month study in the naproxen-treated patients when compared to the placebo-treated patients (p less than 0.001). Radiopharmaceutical uptake was significantly reduced in the alveolar bone in patients receiving naproxen (p less than 0.03), whereas no significant change was observed in the placebo-treated patients. Furthermore, the subtraction radiographs showed a significant increase in the proportion of teeth demonstrating bone gain in the naproxen-treated group. These findings indicate that naproxen may be a useful adjunct to scaling and root planing in patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis.

Validity of digital subtraction of transcranial plain films in quantification of positional changes of the mandibular condyle

Condylar positioning problems have been associated with temporomandibular joint signs and symptoms. The position of the mandibular condyle is difficult to predict and quantify with existing routinely used radiographic techniques. An investigation was implemented to test the validity and reliability of digital subtraction to enhance transcranial plain films and to quantify positional changes of the condyle in a laboratory model. The model consisted of a mounted dried human skull and a mandibular condyle attached to a micromanipulator. Controlled changes in condylar position were made, and the condyle and fossa were imaged. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, analyses of variance to evaluate the sources of variability, and linear contrasts to evaluate the differences between observed and expected values. The results indicated that digital subtraction detected posterior positional change within 10% of the expected value. However, inferior positional changes were poorly detected and lateral positional changes could not be evaluated by this technique. We conclude that digitally subtracted transcranial radiographs may be useful for detection of posterior condylar movements, assuming that appropriate head-holding devices are used to fix x-ray source and head geometry.

Contrast enhancement as an aid to interpretation in digital subtraction radiography

An initial study was performed to demonstrate the feasibility of pseudocolor contrast enhancement technique in digital subtraction radiography (DSR). DSR is an electronic image processing technique that has been shown to be of greater diagnostic value in the detection of small periodontal bone lesions than conventional radiography. Pseudocolor enhancement involves selectively assigning a unique color to each shade of gray present in a black-and-white subtracted image. Two image enhancement techniques were developed and tested in a phantom system consisting of extracted teeth set in blocks of plaster mixed with sawdust to simulate trabecular bone. It was found that experimentally induced periodontal lesions were more readily detected by the average clinician in both types of enhanced subtraction images than unenhanced subtractions. Furthermore, both enhancement techniques were of significantly greater diagnostic value for lesions smaller than 1.0 mm (p less than 0.001). The technique that colored an isolated area of interest was significantly more diagnostic at all depths tested (p less than 0.001 at 0.5 and 1.0 mm, and p less than 0.05 at 0.5 mm). Contrast enhancement may be a significant aid to the average clinician for the interpretation of DSR and the detection of small periodontal defects.

Sources of noise in digital subtraction radiography

In 17 patients, three identical radiographic examinations were performed for the lower premolar-molar region, by two examiners at one visit and by one examiner again approximately 3 months later. Recordings were performed with a newly developed device. The radiographs were converted to digital images in the following way: (1) video camera recording of the radiograph obtained at first visit by the first examiner (A), (2) copying of the numeric image of this radiograph (B), (3) repeated video recording of this radiograph (C), (4) video recording of the radiograph obtained at first visit by the second examiner (D), and (5) video recording of the radiograph obtained after 3 months (E). Subtractions were performed between the images: B - A, C - A, D - A, and E - A. The standard deviation of the histogram for the distribution of gray shades in the subtraction images was used to evaluate noise in the image. The standard deviation was 1.3 between B - A, 2.8 between C - A, 4.0 between D - A, and 4.1 between E - A. Physical noise originating from the video camera and the analog-to-digital conversion process thus constituted the major part of noise seen in subtraction images performed between radiographs recorded with a time interval. This indicates that reproducible recordings could be performed with the present device, which, in combination with a subtraction program able to correct for some geometry and density differences, may aid the use of subtraction radiography in clinical trials.

Performance for obtaining maximal gain from a program for digital subtraction radiography

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on subtraction image quality of number of a) gray shades sampled during camera recording, and b) reference points positioned in the two images to be subtracted. Intraoral radiographs were obtained in each of 12 patients, one at 0 degrees and one at 15 degrees horizontal angulation in a standardized recording procedure. The radiographs were videorecorded twice sampling 1) 160-180 and 2) 200-220 shades of gray. The 0 degrees radiographic image was digitally copied. Subtractions were performed between the identical (0 degrees/0 degrees) and the non-identical (0 degrees/15 degrees) radiographs from both gray shade samples after positioning 5, 10, 15, and 20 reference points, respectively, in each of the images to be subtracted. The standard deviation in the subtraction image histogram was used as the test parameter for image quality. No differences existed between image quality obtained from the radiographs sampled using 160-180 and 200-220 shades of gray (P greater than 0.05). The standard deviation fell continuously, the more reference points were positioned in the images. For the 0 degrees/0 degrees images the difference was statistically significant between the 5 and 10 point images (P = 0.045) while for the 0 degrees/15 degrees images differences existed between 5 and 10 point images (P = 0.077) and the 10 and 15 point images (P = 0.048). The precision of reference point positioning as evaluated in the two identical images was satisfactory, the divergence being on average 1.4 pixels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of region-of-interest in computerized densitometric analysis of radiographs

The region-of-interest (ROI) in computer-assisted densitometric image analysis (CADIA) is defined by its size and location. This study evaluated the effects of these variables on two quantitative parameters, the change in density and the area with change in density. Pairs of radiographs for these analyses were obtained from sites with "no change" or "known loss" in Cynomolgus monkeys during a study of ligature-induced periodontitis. The size and location of the ROI had clear effects on the two CADIA parameters. To reduce these effects, a corrective procedure hypothesizing a linear relationship between the ROI size and the area with change in density was tested. While this procedure was sufficient to correct for ROI size-dependent differences among "no change" images, it was not effective in images with "known loss". In such images, additional adjustments by increasing threshold levels for the registered change in density were found to reduce but not to eliminate differences between ROIs of different size and location. When densitometric radiographic analysis is used for quantitative comparison of different sites, it is primarily recommended to select ROIs of similar size and location. Application of corrective procedures should follow only after careful evaluation of their effects on sensitivity and specificity.

Increase of interproximal bone density after subgingival instrumentation: a quantitative radiographical study

Ten interproximal sites, with periodontal pockets deeper than 5 mm and showing loss of bone on standard dental radiographs, were treated by subgingival instrumentation in 10 patients properly motivated and given thorough hygiene instructions. The index of gingival inflammation, the plaque index, the degree of mobility, the depth of the pockets, and the loss of attachment were measured before starting the treatment, and 2 months, 6 months, and 1 year after treatment. Standardized reproducible radiographs of the 10 sites were taken by using a recently developed paralleling instrument before treatment, immediately after and 2 months, 6 months, and 1 year afterwards. The density of the interdental bone was measured on the radiographs by a computer assisted densitometric technique at three levels of the interdental septum: the most occlusal or "superficial" level; the "deep" level, arbitrarily chosen 1.5 mm below; and the "control" level, in a much deeper area of interproximal bone. As further control, the density of the superficial crestal bone was also followed in 5 healthy untreated sites from 5 of the patients. As expected, a significant improvement of the clinical parameters was observed during the year following therapy. The results of the radiographical analysis showed statistically significant increases of both the superficial and deep average densities of interproximal bone at 6 months and 1 year after treatment. The superficial bone density was, on the average, 13% higher at 6 months and 16% higher at 1 year, as compared to that measured immediately after treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Limitations of the digital image subtraction technique in assessing alveolar bone crest changes due to misalignment errors during image capture

The digital image subtraction method depends critically on the very precise registration of sequential radiographs. A method of using a single radiograph to form two identical digital images was created, eliminating any potential effects from irradiation or processing variation, to investigate the effects of misregistration between images. These images were displaced by 0.1-0.42 mm in the X, Y and XY directions before subtraction. A total of 35 alveolar crest margins from five bitewing radiographs were investigated for the extent of false bone loss or gain produced in the subtracted images. The mean grey level gradient across the interdental space/crestal margin interface was 3.1 (SD 1.4) grey levels per 0.05 mm pixel. Small displacements between subtracted images of 0.1-0.14 mm in the Y or XY directions caused 20-25% of crestal pixels to vary by greater than or equal to +/- 2.5% of the grey range. Larger displacements of 0.3-0.42 mm caused 65% of crestal pixels to vary by greater than or equal to +/- 2.5% of the grey range. A higher threshold of greater than or equal to +/- 4.1% of the grey range still showed up to 48% of crestal pixels were in this higher deviation band. A high noise threshold of +/- 8% of the grey range should be used to discriminate against false grey values. A visual method for estimating the direction of displacement error between images is discussed together with a method for setting noise thresholds for individual alveolar crest grey level gradients. In any radiograph, a range of alveolar crest gradients will be found and those with the higher gradients will produce the largest subtraction errors for any given displacement between images.

The diagnostic value of subtraction radiography in the assessment of granular hydroxylapatite implants

Although histologic analysis of osseous changes around hydroxylapatite (HA) implants can be highly accurate, it is of limited use in human beings. Digital subtraction radiography may provide a noninvasive alternative. Ten patients with bony lesions were operated on and nine of the iatrogenic defects were filled with granulated HA. In one patient, the defect was left unfilled for reference. Customized film holders provided standardized radiography. Follow-up images after 4 to 6 months were subtracted from immediately obtained postoperative images, and changes around the implants were noted. From ten pairs of radiographs, eight could be successfully subtracted, whereas two pairs required corrective image transformation before subtraction. Although no bone loss was observed in any of the patients, the implants did not appear to enhance physiologic bone regeneration either. Hence, subtraction radiography holds the potential of clinical utility for the follow-up of HA implants. However, technical improvements are necessary to yield quantitative data.

Correction of density changes caused by methodological errors in CADIA

Quantitative evaluation of radiographic changes by computer-assisted densitometric image analysis (CADIA) requires exact knowledge about method errors. In the present study, density change errors were determined from pairs of films with "no change". From this distribution of error values, a series of threshold values for correction of changes due to method errors was selected. The threshold values were then applied to results from analysis of densitometric changes in sites with "known loss" or "no change" of the alveolar bone among films from cynomolgus monkeys. The density errors formed non-normal distributions with no difference in magnitudes between the absolute values expressing density decreases and density increases in the same areas. Calculation of sensitivity, specificity, type 1 and type 2 errors showed that these variables were clearly influenced by selection of different threshold values for correction of the density change errors. It is therefore recommended that threshold values be determined for each analytical system initially as well as following any equipment or computer program modification. Before selecting the threshold value for a specific radiographic analysis, the desired level of sensitivity and specificity should be evaluated.

Effect of manual compared with reference point superimposition on image quality in digital subtraction radiography

The aim of this study was to compare a new subtraction program based on positioning of reference points (RP) in the two images with the classic manual (M) superimposition of the images during recording. The experiments were performed on 22 dry mandibles from domestic pigs. A bone chip was prepared from the cortex with seven edges: 0.26, 0.30, 0.36, 0.42, 0.49, 0.55 and 0.72 mm thick respectively. Each mandible was radiographed at 0 degrees vertical angulation without the bone chip. The bone chip was then fixed to the lingual plate for a series of radiographs during which the vertical angulation was varied from 0 degrees to 10 degrees at 1 degree intervals. After completion of this series of exposures, amalgam fillings were placed in the two molars on the right side and a second series obtained. The radiographs were digitized (512 x 512 x 8 bit resolution), stored in a personal computer and then subtracted in a random order by the two methods. The RP method was found to be superior to the M method for all the angulations evaluated; as the images were more homogeneous as shown by the smaller SD in the grey-scale histogram. The best results were obtained on images with amalgam-filled teeth. Significantly more bone edges were seen with the RP method, especially when amalgam fillings were present. The RP method may therefore be superior to the M in clinical trials using subtraction radiography.

Altering the progression of human alveolar bone loss with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug flurbiprofen

The treatment of human periodontal diseases relies on mechanical and antimicrobial suppression of the etiologic bacteria. The ability to alter the progression of periodontitis by additionally blocking host pathways involved in the destructive process is an area of current research. Prostaglandins and other metabolites of arachidonic acid are believed to be important host mediators of the bone resorption of diseases such as periodontitis. We have previously examined the effect of inhibitors of prostaglandin production, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), on inhibiting alveolar bone loss in beagles. The present study was designed to examine the effect of the NSAID, flurbiprofen, on slowing the radiographic loss of alveolar bone in the human. Fifty-six individuals with radiographic evidence of alveolar bone loss were recruited for study. Forty-four patients remained in the study for the data analysis of loss of alveolar bone. Following a 6 month baseline pretreatment period to measure the radiographic progression of bone loss, half of the patients were administered flurbiprofen, 50 mg. b.i.d., while half were administered a placebo. All patients received a subgingival scaling and pumice by a hygienist every 6 months. The rate of alveolar bone loss in a 2 year treatment period was compared to the baseline 6 month pretreatment period within and between patient groups. Throughout the study, teeth exhibiting obvious loss of bone were exited from study and treated with conventional mechanical therapy. At the end of the pretreatment period both patient groups had a similar mean rate of alveolar bone loss.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effects of beam hardening on digital subtraction radiography

Quantitative assessment of osseous changes attributable to periodontal disease is made possible by digital subtraction radiography. Tissues through which x rays travel to produce dental radiographs essential to this process alter the energy spectrum of the beam such that calibration errors result when densitometry is attempted using a homogeneous calibration standard such as a step wedge. The following controlled in vitro investigation evaluates the extent of such errors caused by these spectral differences, called beam hardening. Simulated osseous lesions of known size were computed densitometrically using selectively filtered radiation to produce the x-ray images. The resulting data confirm the theory and demonstrate with statistically meaningful accuracy that beam hardening can contribute a significant component of variance to absolute estimates of lesion size. They also suggest that other errors (probably attributable to low contrast) may be even more important at high peak kilovoltages.

Digital imaging in periodontal radiography. A review

The development and the potential impact of digital imaging techniques for the analysis of dental radiographs are reviewed with emphasis on periodontal diagnosis. The introduction of video-based computer-assisted image analysis systems for the evaluation of standardized dental radiographs offered increased diagnostic accuracy in the detection of subtle density changes over interpretation of conventional radiographs. Digital subtraction images were interpreted qualitatively on a video monitor or quantitatively by applying programs which measure the density differences stored in digital format. Recently, these methods, which have been extensively tested in vitro, were applied to clinical trials for the assessment of alveolar bone density changes due to progression of disease or healing following therapy. The application of digital image analysis methods offers objective, quantitative and non-invasive ways to obtain additional diagnostic information from standardized radiographs in clinical trials.

Film-holding instruments for intraoral subtraction radiography

Clinical application of digital subtraction radiography is limited by the reproducibility in the orientation of the x-ray source, image receptor, and object. In this study, eight dental intraoral film alignment instruments (including five replicates of each) were tested for accuracy in repositioning over a period of 6 months. Each instrument was made by adhering one of six impression materials (including acrylics, compounds, and elastics) onto the bite blocks of commercially available alignment instruments. The dimensional accuracy and reproducibility of the orientation of the x-ray source with respect to the object were determined over time for each instrument by measuring the horizontal and vertical angulation change in the position of a buccally placed marker on a dried mandible with a lingually placed film grid. Nine measurements were made during the 6-month test period. The most reproducible instrument was the combination of Regisil, an elastic impression material, and a Rinn XCP bite block. This combination yielded a mean absolute horizontal angulation error of 1.34 degrees +/- 0.63 and a mean absolute vertical angulation error of 2.04 degrees +/- 0.82, yielding a total angulation error of 2.44 degrees +/- 1.16. This was within the acceptable range of accuracy needed to produce diagnostically useful information when digital subtraction radiography is used.