COMPARISON OF PERIAPICAL AND DETAILED NARROW-BEAM RADIOGRAPHY FOR DIAGNOSIS OF PERIODONTAL PATHOLOGY

The diagnostic performance of the detailed narrow-beam (DNB) technique of the Scanora(R) multimodal X-ray system was compared with periapica l radiography for detecting periodontal pathology. In total, 253 sites in 133 patients were examined. Receiver operating characteristics (RO C) of both imaging modalities were analyzed in relation to the ratings of five observers for the whole dentition, three dental regions and f ive types of periodontal lesion. ROC analysis demonstrated that the ov erall diagnostic performance of DNB radiography was better (P<0.05) th an that of periapical radiography. DNB radiography was significantly s uperior (P<0.01) for detecting marginal widening of periodontal membra ne space, but there was no significant difference between the two tech niques for crestal erosion, vertical bone loss, furcation involvement or calculus. The regional differences found in overall diagnostic perf ormance of the two imaging modalities were not significant. The sensit ivity for periapical radiography was 71% and for DNB radiography 85%, and the specificities 82% and 81% respectively. It is concluded that D NB radiography is a good radiographic examination for periodontal dise ase, and an acceptable alternative to periapical radiography.