Differences in cephalometric analysis measurements: a comparison of computerized versus hand - tracing methods

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of cephalometric measurements using computerized tracing in comparison with hand tracing of radiographic printouts. A sample was used, consisting of 90 standardized lateral cephalometric radiographs, obtaining from 10 year old male and female patients with normal skeletal and dental components. The radiographs were analyzed by two different observers. The first observer performed the manual and computerized tracing and then the procedure randomly rechecked by the second observer. A total of 13 anatomical landmarks of McNamara analysis were located and angular and linear measurements were obtained. Measurement reproducibility was evaluated by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC]. Differences greater than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Significant differences were found between the methods for [Inferior Airway Space] in females. Cephalometric measurements of most parameters were reproducible for both methods. The study showed that confidence can be increased in tracings obtained from computer-assisted cephalometric analysis. As the discrepancies found between both manual and computerized, were mostly not statistically significant, any differences were minimal and clinically acceptable