Effect of Segmentation Techniques (Manual Versus Semiautomatic) on the Accuracy of the Reconstructed Mandibular Condyle using Cbct (A Diagnostic Accuracy Study)

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of the technique of segmentation (manual or/ semi-automatic) on the accuracy volumetric measurements of the reconstructed mandibular condyle from CBCT images as compared to the real measurements of the actual condyle which act as the gold standard.

Methodology: 30 dry mandibular condyles were included in this study.For real Volumetric measurements, water displacement technique was used. Each skull &mandible assembly was scanned using the standard imaging protocol using Planmeca Promax 3D Mid CBCT machine. DICOM files were imported to 3D slicer open-source segmentation software. Manual and semiautomatic segmentation techniques were used to obtain 3D reconstructed mandibular condyles.Volumetric measurements were automatically measured by the software. Data were normally distributed and were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc test. Correlations were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Reliability was analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results: The overall agreement of the manual and the semiautomatic segmentation techniques with the real gold standard was excellent in volumetric measurements. Concerning the measurement errors of both modalities, the semiautomatic technique showed a higher error
 Conclusion: CBCT is an accurate and reliable imaging modality for maxillofacial structures. segmentation. Semi-automated segmentation of the mandibular condyle is a reliable and time-saving segmentation approach that can yield accurate volumetric results compared to manual segmentation.