scholarly journals Does the addition of a lead foil to digital radiographic receptors influence image contrast and approximal caries lesions diagnosis?

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 20190384
Author(s):  
Rocharles Cavalcante Fontenele ◽  
Yuri Nejaim ◽  
Amanda Farias Gomes ◽  
Hugo Gaêta-Araujo ◽  
Francisco Haiter-Neto ◽  
...  

Objectives: To access the influence of the addition of a lead foil to intraoral digital radiographic receptors on image contrast and approximal caries lesions diagnosis. Methods: 40 posterior teeth were distributed in silicone phantoms composed of two premolars, two molars and a non-test canine. Radiographic images of the phantoms were obtained with and without the incorporation of a lead foil, using the Digora Optime and Digora Toto systems. Four observers scored the images for the presence of caries lesions, using a 5-point scale. Images of an aluminum step wedge were acquired with and without the incorporation of a lead foil. Gray values and standard deviation of gray values were calculated in different thickness of the step wedge and, then, contrast variation was calculated. Results: Presence of a lead foil did not influence caries lesions diagnostic values, regardless of the type of digital system (p > 0.05). In general, the objective analysis was not influenced by the presence of a lead foil in any of the tested systems (p > 0.05). However, Digora Toto images showed greater gray values, lower standard deviation of gray values and lower contrast variation, regardless of the presence of the lead foil (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The addition of a lead foil to intraoral digital receptors did not influence image contrast nor caries lesions diagnosis.

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 20180369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Farias Gomes ◽  
Yuri Nejaim ◽  
Rocharles Cavalcante Fontenele ◽  
Francisco Haiter-Neto ◽  
Deborah Queiroz Freitas

Objective: To evaluate the quality of images obtained with the addition of a lead foil to intraoral digital receptors. Methods: Radiographic images of 34 single-rooted human teeth - 19 with vertical root fracture (VRF) and 15 of the control group - were obtained with and without the addition of a lead foil, using the VistaScan, Express, Digora Optime and Digora Toto systems. Images were evaluated by five observers regarding the diagnosis of VRF, using a 5-point scale. In a second moment, an observer preference analysis related to the presence of the lead foil was performed. Images of an acrylic phantom were also obtained with and without the addition of a lead foil, and the quantities of uniformity, grey value and standard deviation of grey values were obtained. Results: There were no significant differences in the VRF diagnostic values, considering the presence of the lead foil. Regarding the image quality preference, the observers preferred images acquired with the lead foil for all systems tested, but with greater values for Digora Optime (61.33%) and Express (61.33%). The presence of the lead foil did influence the image uniformity in all systems tested ( p < 0.05). Moreover, the lead foil increased the mean of grey values for Digora Optime and Express images ( p < 0.05), however it did not influence the SD in any of the digital systems ( p > 0.05). Conclusion: The addition of a lead foil to intraoral digital receptors produces a positive effect in the image quality objectively detected by means of uniformity and subjective visual preference.


Author(s):  
Francesca COSMI ◽  
Alberto DAL MASO ◽  
Giorgio ZATTA

Additive manufacturing played a keyrole in investigating the precision of a recently-developed device that measures the elastic characteristics of the trabecular bone by simulating the application of loads on a virtual biopsy obtained from radiographic images of the proximal epiphyses in the patient’s hand fingers. The simulation results are combined in a Bone Structure Index (BSI), which has shown to be able to detect trabecular bone alterations due to osteoporosis or other pathological situations. In order to obtain a large number of measurements without having voluntary patients undergo unnecessary radiations, the precision assessment tests were carried out on a 3D-printed phantom hand, in which different mimicked trabecular structures (chips) were inserted. Each mimicked bone had a unique internal structure and density and was 3D-printed using radiopaque composite materials. Fifteen different chips were additively manufactured; 20 measurements were performed on each chip. BSI and BSI_T-score precision values were computed according to ISO 5725 and ISCD standards. For all the chips, no relationship was found between the mean [Formula: see text] and standard deviation [Formula: see text] of the measurements in each chip. The range of the 95% confidence interval ([Formula: see text]) was computed assuming the repeatability standard deviation [Formula: see text] as the known standard deviation of the measurement method (average of [Formula: see text] values): [Formula: see text], corresponding to [Formula: see text]. Least Significant Change was evaluated as well: [Formula: see text], corresponding to [Formula: see text]. The 95% confidence intervals are small when compared to the commonly-accepted diagnostic values, where a patient is classified as osteoporotic if T-score < −2.5, non-osteoporotic if T-score > -1 and osteopoenic if -2.5 < T-score < -1. The LSC results are in line with the requirements for the gold-standard osteoporosis diagnostic systems. Additive manufacturing made it possible to avoid irradiation of humans in this precision assessment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Melo ◽  
Agustin Pascual ◽  
Isabel Camps ◽  
Fadi Ata-Ali ◽  
Javier Ata-Ali

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical ability of Near-Infrared Light-Transillumination (NILT) for approximal dentinal caries detection and to compare with direct digital-radiography (DDR), as well as to determine whether the combination of both techniques improves the diagnostic capacity of the lesions. From 88 patients (over 18 years), 138 posterior teeth (76 molars and 62 premolars), that had approximal caries reached into dentine determined by DDR, were included. Lesion extension and DDR images were scored as follows: D0 = sound surface, D1/D2 = caries restricted to the outer/inner-half of the enamel, and D3/4 = caries restricted to the outer/inner-half of the dentin. Opening of the approximal surface using 0.5 mm-in-diameter diamond-bar was used as gold-standard. The lesion extension was then determined by the following criteria: no dentinal caries (D0/1/2) or dentinal caries (D3/4). Seventy-one lesions were D3 and 67 lesions were D4. Sensitivities of overall/D3/D4 were 98.0/95.7/100.0 (NILT) and 100/100/100 (DDR), respectively. Correlations with gold-standard were 0.92 (NILT) and 0.42 (DDR), respectively. The correlation increased to 0.97 (p = 0.045) on combining NILT and DDR. There was no difference in sensitivity between the methods (p > 0.05); but was differences in the correlation (p < 0.01). It can be concluded that NILT showed sensitivity similar to that of DDR and higher correlation than DDR for approximal dentinal caries detection. Accordingly, it may be used to monitor the progression of caries without exposing the patient to ionizing radiation, this being of particular interest in growing patients and in pregnant women. In this respect, NILT can be an effective diagnostic tool adjunctive to bitewing radiographs in detecting approximal dentinal caries. The combination of NILT and DDR represents an increase in the diagnosis of approximal lesions The proposed diagnostic protocol comprises visual examination, followed by NILT and DDR only if the former technique detects approximal caries.


2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (6-7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Varin Chouvatut ◽  
Ekkarat Boonchieng

Radiographic image quality is important in the medical field since it can increase the visibility of anatomical structures and even improve the medical diagnosis. Because the image quality depends on contrast, noise, and spatial resolution, images with low contrast, a lot of noises, or low resolution will decrease image quality, leading to an incorrect diagnosis. Therefore, radiographic images should be enhanced to facilitate medical expertise in making correct diagnosis. In this paper, radiographic images are enhanced by hybrid algorithms based on the idea of combining three image processing techniques: Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization for enhancing image contrast, Median Filter for removing noises, and Unsharp Masking for increasing spatial resolution. Two series of medical images consisting of 20 x-ray images and 20 computed radiography images are enhanced with this method. Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) and image contrast are computed in order to measure image quality. The results indicate that the enhanced images have better PSNR.


2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 352-356
Author(s):  
E Yahaghi ◽  
M E Hosseini-Ashrafi

Weld quality inspection using industrial radiography is considered to be one of the most important processes in critical industries such as aeronautical manufacturing. The quality of radiographic images of welded industrial parts may suffer from poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the main cause of which is the unavoidable detection of scattered X-rays. Image processing methods may be used to enhance image contrast and achieve improved defect detection. In this study, the outcomes from three different image contrast enhancement spatial domain transform algorithms are analysed and compared. The three algorithms used are normalised convolution (NC), interpolated convolution (IC) and recursive filtering (RF). Based on the results of qualitative operator perception, the study shows that the application of all three methods results in improved image contrast, enabling enhanced visualisation of image detail. Subtle differences in performance between the outputs from the different algorithms are noted, especially around the edges of image features. Furthermore, it is found that RF is approximately two orders of magnitude quicker than the other algorithms, making it more suitable for online weld inspection lines.


2009 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 537-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Isidor ◽  
M Faaborg-Andersen ◽  
H Hintze ◽  
L-L Kirkevang ◽  
M Frydenberg ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Solmaz Valizadeh ◽  
Mostafa Goodini ◽  
Sara Ehsani ◽  
Hadis Mohseni ◽  
Fateme Azimi ◽  
...  

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