3D-CT Imaging Processing For Qualitative And Quantitative Analysis Of Maxillofacial Cysts And Tumors

The rising up Spiral Computed tomography (SCT) in the late 1980s' was a landmark in the history of CT. Current resources of SCT overcome the limitation of traditional CT, and allow reconstructing three-dimensional (3D) images that improve the diagnosis and monitoring of treatments in several maxillofacial pathological conditions. Axial slices obtained from CT are sent to an independent workstation, which utilizes an appropriate hardware and software to generate 3D images. Those images can be processed by means of different protocols - the 3D surface- and the 3D volume-rendering techniques.The comparative evaluation of their usefulness for assessing lesions of the maxillofacial complex may improve the diagnosis, surgical planning and monitoring of maxillofacial lesions. Furthermore, an ideal technique allows the visualization of the interior aspect of bone and tegument structures, such as intra-osseous cavities, articulations, ligaments, muscles and glands. Therefore, the present study aimed at a qualitative and quantitative assessment of 3D-CT surface- and volume-rendering of maxillofacial pathological lesions, by means of comparing their results with surgical observations.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate spiral-computed tomography (3D-CT) images of 40 patients presenting with cysts and tumors in the maxillofacial complex, in order to compare the surface and volume techniques of image rendering. To discuss the significance of...