Detection of vertical root fracture using cone-beam computerized tomography: an in vitro assessment

Objectives. This study aimed to compare 2 cone-beam CT units [NewTom 3G (small FOV), Iluma (ultra/low resolution)] and an intraoral CCD sensor in the detection of vertical root fracture (VRF). Study design. The VRFs were created in 30 teeth, and 30 intact teeth served as control samples. All images were evaluated twice by 4 observers. Kappa coefficients were calculated to assess intra- and interobserver agreement, and t tests were used to compare Az values (alpha = 0.05). Results. Both intra- and interobserver agreement values were higher for the ultra-resolution Iluma and NewTom 3G images compared with the low-resolution Iluma and intraoral CCD images. Az values for the ultra-resolution Iluma and NewTom 3G images were also higher than for the Iluma low-resolution and intraoral CCD images. No significant differences (P > .05) in diagnostic accuracy were found between the Iluma ultra-resolution and NewTom 3G images, with the exception of the second reading of observer 2 (P = .036), and no significant differences (P > .05) were found between the intraoral digital and low-resolution Iluma images. Conclusion. Both ultra-resolution Iluma and NewTom 3G images performed better than low-resolution Iluma and intraoral CCD images in the detection of VRF. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010; 109: e74-e81)