CLINICAL USEFULNESS OF 2-DIMENSIONAL REFORMATTED AND 3-DIMENSIONALLY RENDERED COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHIC-IMAGES - LITERATURE-REVIEW AND A SURVEY OF SURGEONS OPINIONS

Purpose: This study compares the usefulness of axial computed tomograp hy (CT) with two-dimensional (2D) reformats and three-dimensionally (3 D) rendered CT data in the treatment planning and management of patien ts. Patients and Methods: Twenty-nine patients who had been studied wi th CT were grouped into the following four clinical problems: 1) tempo romandibular joint assessment (n = 8), 2) growth and development asses sment (n = 4), 3) posttrauma and postoperative assessment (n = 13), 4) ''other'' (n = 4). The clinicians who treated these patients were sur veyed for their opinions of the usefulness of CT with and without 2D/3 D reformatting. Results: In a majority of the cases within each of the four clinical groups, the clinicians believed that 2D and/or 3D refor matting of the CT data provided additional useful information for pati ent management. In most of the cases, 3D imaging provided information in addition to that provided by the axial or reformatted 2D images. Co nclusion: 2D and 3D CT images can be useful to the clinician in diagno sis and treatment planning. These methods enhance the accuracy of diag nostic decisions and the establishment of appropriate treatment plans.