Image quality of low dose dental Cone Beam CT v.2.2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The impact on image quality of the implementation of a low dose protocol for Cone Beam CT examinations of the anterior maxilla in children and young people
IRAS ID
152071
Contact name
Keith Horner
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 0 days
Research summary
The exposure to X-rays in radiology should be kept as low as possible while keeping acceptable image quality. This is particularly important in younger patients because the risks from exposure are greater. In dentistry, Cone beam CT (CBCT) is a dental X-ray technique giving three dimensional images with diagnostic advantages, but which has higher radiation doses than traditional radiography. A laboratory study performed by the applicants showed that there is a range of X-ray exposure factors that provide acceptable levels of image quality for CBCT of the anterior upper jaw (the commonest dental CBCT examination in children and young people). A new “low dose” exposure protocol developed from that study allowed us to give about 50% of the X-ray dose to patients compared with the manufacturer’s protocol. The low dose protocol was introduced in November 2013 following the agreement of the Radiation Protection Adviser/Medical Physics Expert.
The aim of the proposed study is to determine if the “end-users” of CBCT images, orthodontists and paediatric dentists, find the low dose protocol acceptable in terms of image quality. CBCT examinations of children and young people (under 18 years) from the X-ray department at the University Dental Hospital of Manchester will be collected retrospectively. A comparison of CBCT images from patients taken before and after the introduction of the low dose protocol will be made. Patients will be matched for age and other key factors. Between 5 and 10 observers (depending on recruitment) will make the image quality assessment. A statistical analysis will be performed to see if there is any difference in the image quality of CBCT examinations performed before and after the introduction of the low dose protocol. The result will either confirm the acceptability of the low dose protocol or direct us to reconsider the X-ray exposure factors.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NE/1222
Date of REC Opinion
26 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion