PANORAMIC MANDIBULAR INDEX AS A RADIOMORPHOMETRIC TOOL - AN ASSESSMENT OF PRECISION

Objectives: To evaluate the intra-observer repeatability and inter-obs erver reproducibility of the measurements used in deriving the Panoram ic Mandibular Index (PMI). Methods: Two observers measured 21 dental p anoramic radiographs independently of each other, both repeating the m easurements after a period of 1 week. The measurements were then evalu ated using a number of statistical methods. Results: All sets of compa red measurements, demonstrated significant positive correlations, meas urements. Precision, however, was poor and variable. Conclusion: The m ain difficulties in obtaining consistency in repeated measurements wer e related to individual morphology and radiodensity. In order to impro ve the validity of the PMI as a measure of local bone loss, repeatabil ity of the measurements should be improved. Suggestions as to how this might be achieved are discussed.