The purpose of this study was to determine whether direct digital lateral cephalometric
radiographs are of equal value in diagnosis and treatment planning as conventional
cephalometric radiographs by investigating differences in landmark identification
on direct digital and conventional cephalometric radiographs. An evaluation of precision
and the distribution of landmark identification error at each cephalometric landmark
was undertaken. Ten observers, all orthodontists or postgraduate orthodontic residents,
identified 19 landmarks twice on 6 digital images and 6 conventional cephalometric
films obtained from the records of 6 patients at the University of Alabama School
of Dentistry Graduate Orthodontic Clinic. Patient records selected were of adults
with existing pretreatment conventional cephalometric films and posttreatment direct
digital cephalometric images on file. Landmark identification recordings were transferred
into a standardized coordinate system, adjusted for magnification differences, and
evaluated separately along both the x- and the y-coordinates. Statistically significant
differences in landmark identification error were found along the x-coordinate for
A point (Apt) and along the y-coordinate for anterior nasal spine (ANS) and condylion
(Co). These statistically significant differences, as well as those found to be not
statistically significantly different, were all below 1 mm, indicating that even the
statistically significant differences between the two methods of image acquisition
were unlikely to be of clinical significance. Each landmark exhibited its own unique
pattern of landmark identification error, the magnitude and distribution of which
must be taken into consideration when selecting landmarks for use in cephalometric
analysis or when interpreting these analyses for diagnostic or treatment planning
purposes. The results of the present study indicate similar precision and reproducibility
in landmark identification using both direct digital images and conventional lateral
cephalometric head films.
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© 2005 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
