Accuracy of angular cephalometric measurements with scanned lateral cephalograms

ABSTRACT

Digital Cephalometry is fast becoming the standard of care in contemporary orthodontic diagnosis. Before it can completely take over the traditional methods, it must be demonstrated that it is as accurate as conventional cephalometric radiography. This study was done to compare the accuracy of angular cephalometric measurements on scanned cephalograms with manual tracing as the gold standard. Cephalometric analysis of specified angular measurements was performed on cephalometric radiographs manually. Radiographs were subsequently scanned and the images were analyzed digitally with a computer software for the same measurements. Paired sample t tests were used for statistical significance [p<0.05]. Clinical significance was set as more than 2° difference between the methods for any angular measurement. Cephalometric comparisons between original and digital images showed statistically significant differences for SNA, MMA, IMPA and Nasolabial angles. None of the means of the difference between the two methods exceeded 1°. Although some measurements showed statistically significant differences, the difference was regarded as clinically insignificant. Scanned cephalograms can be safely used for angular cephalometric analysis: