Comparability of dental implant site ridge measurements using ultra-low-dose multidetector row computed tomography combined with filtered back-projection, adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction, and model-based iterative reconstruction

Objective To assess the linear measurements of edentulous ridges recorded from multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) images obtained by a previously untested ultra-low dose in combination with filtered back-projection (FBP), adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR), and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR). Methods Three cadavers were imaged using a reference protocol with a standard dose and FBP (volume CT dose index (CTDIvol): 29.4 mGy) and two ultra-low-dose protocols, LD1 and LD2 (CTDIvol: 0.53 and 0.29 mGy). All test examinations were reconstructed with FBP, ASIR 50, ASIR 100, and MBIR. Linear measurements from the images of the edentulous ridges recorded from the test protocols were compared with those from the reference using a one-sample t test, Bland-Altman plots, and linear regression. Statistical significance was set at a p value of 0.05. Results The one-sample t test demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the measurements from the reference protocol and all test protocols. The difference was not clinically significant for the following three test protocols: LD1/FBP, LD1/ASIR 50, and LD2/FBP. Bland-Altman plots with linear regression showed no systematic variation between the measurements obtained with the reference protocol and these three test protocols. Conclusions The lowest-dose protocol to demonstrate comparable measurements with a standard MDCT dose was CTDIvol 0.29 mGy with FBP. These results must be considered with caution for areas of the jaws with thin cortication. The results in areas of thin cortication should be verified by studies with larger sample sizes at such areas and comparison with true gold standard measurements.