The Effectiveness of Semi-Automated and Fully Automatic Segmentation for Inferior Alveolar Canal Localization on CBCT Scans: A Systematic Review

This systematic review aims to identify the available semi-automatic and fully automatic algorithms for inferior alveolar canal localization as well as to present their diagnostic accuracy. Articles related to inferior alveolar nerve/canal localization using methods based on artificial intelligence (semi-automated and fully automated) were collected electronically from five different databases (PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus). Two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts of the collected data, stored in EndnoteX7, against the inclusion criteria. Afterward, the included articles have been critically appraised to assess the quality of the studies using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool. Seven studies were included following the deduplication and screening against exclusion criteria of the 990 initially collected articles. In total, 1288 human cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were investigated for inferior alveolar canal localization using different algorithms and compared to the results obtained from manual tracing executed by experts in the field. The reported values for diagnostic accuracy of the used algorithms were extracted. A wide range of testing measures was implemented in the analyzed studies, while some of the expected indexes were still missing in the results. Future studies should consider the new artificial intelligence guidelines to ensure proper methodology, reporting, results, and validation.

Maxillofacial Radiology 194

CBCT imaging and analysis was performed. Observe unilateral expansion by the distending soft tissue outline illustrated through 3D rendering (Figure 2). Sagittal oblique (Figure 3) and axial (Figure 4) slices depict a round heterogenous predominantly high-density lesion with an encompassing thin uniform less dense peripheral band. Irregular root resorption, displacement of the inferior alveolar nerve canal, buccal-lingual cortical expansion, thinning, and interruption was apparent. Irregular thickening at the inferior border and surrounding osteosclerosis were noted. A macroscopic view (Figure 5), photomicrograph (Figure 6), and conventional radiograph (Figure 7) of vertically sectioned surgical specimens of similar lesions. Note the intimate relationship with the tooth roots.

A Suspected Metastatic Liposarcoma of the Inferior Alveolar Nerve Canal: A Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction: Liposarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma, but it is relatively scarce in the head and neck. The metastatic liposarcoma is more infrequent than the primary one. Case Presentation: Here is presented a suspected case of metastatic liposarcoma in the inferior alveolar nerve canal in a 40-year-old female patient with a chief complaint of the chin and lower lip numbness and medical history of liposarcoma in the thigh. The present study was a case report for metastatic liposarcoma in the head and neck regions, according to the English language literature found in PubMed and Google Scholar. The search was performed using the keywords "Metastatic Liposarcoma" and "Head" and "Neck". Conclusions: According to the findings, the reported case may be the first case of the metastasis of liposarcoma in the inferior alveolar nerve canal. Ominous signs, such as numbness, should be considered in patients with a history of cancer, due to their warning for metastasis or recurrence of the tumor.