Background: The aim of this study was to determine diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of panoramic and peri-apical radiography for detecting furcation involvement (1) and to evaluate the possible impact of clinical experience on these diagnostic parameters (2).Methods: Periodontitis patients in need of an implant were retrospectively selected. Inclusion criteria were the presence of a CBCT, panoramic and peri-apical radiograph of the site of interest within a one-year time frame. All furcation sites were classified on the basis of CBCT using Hamp’s index (1975). These data were considered gold standard. Ten experienced examiners and 10 trainees were asked to assess furcation involvement for the same defects on the basis of corresponding panoramic and peri-apical radiographs. Absolute agreement, Cohen’s weighted kappa, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. In addition, ROC-curves were constructed.Results: The study sample included 60 furcation sites in 29 multi-rooted teeth from 17 patients (10 females; mean age 62). On average 20/60 furcations were correctly classified on the basis of panoramic radiography, corresponding to weighted kappa of 0.209 indicative of slight agreement. Respective data for peri-apical radiography were 19/60 and 0.221. When recategorizing FI Grades into ‘no to limited FI’ (FI Grade 0 and I) and ‘advanced FI’ (FI Grade II and III), panoramic and peri-apical radiography showed low sensitivity (0.550 and 0.441, respectively), yet high specificity (0.791 and 0.790, respectively) for identifying advanced FI. Both showed diagnostic value given the area under the ROC-curve amounting to 0.79 and 0.69 for panoramic and peri-apical radiography, respectively. There was no significant difference between experienced periodontists and trainees.Conclusion: Panoramic and peri-apical radiography are relevant in the diagnosis of FI given high specificity. These are best combined with furcation probing showing high sensitivity. Clinical experience does not seem to improve the accuracy of a radiological diagnosis of furcation sites.Trial Registration: Patients were retrospectively registered.
Background: The aim of this study was to determine diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of panoramic and peri-apical radiography for detecting furcation involvement (1) and to evaluate the possible impact of clinical experience on these diagnostic parameters (2).Methods: Periodontitis patients in need of an implant were retrospectively selected. Inclusion criteria were the presence of a CBCT, panoramic and peri-apical radiograph of the site of interest within a one-year time frame. All furcation sites were classified on the basis of CBCT using Hamp’s index (1975). These data were considered gold standard. Ten experienced examiners and 10 trainees were asked to assess furcation involvement for the same defects on the basis of corresponding panoramic and peri-apical radiographs. Absolute agreement, Cohen’s weighted kappa, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. In addition, ROC-curves were constructed.Results: The study sample included 60 furcation sites in 29 multi-rooted teeth from 17 patients (10 females; mean age 62). On average 20/60 furcations were correctly classified on the basis of panoramic radiography, corresponding to weighted kappa of 0.209 indicative of slight agreement. Respective data for peri-apical radiography were 19/60 and 0.221. When recategorizing FI Grades into ‘no to limited FI’ (FI Grade 0 and I) and ‘advanced FI’ (FI Grade II and III), panoramic and peri-apical radiography showed low sensitivity (0.558 and 0.441, respectively), yet high specificity (0.791 and 0.790, respectively) for identifying advanced FI. Both showed diagnostic value given the area under the ROC-curve amounting to 0.79 and 0.69 for panoramic and peri-apical radiography, respectively. There was no significant difference between experienced periodontists and trainees (P = 0.257 versus P = 0.880).Conclusion: Panoramic and peri-apical radiography are relevant in the diagnosis of FI given high specificity. These are best combined with furcation probing showing high sensitivity. Clinical experience does not seem to improve the accuracy of a radiological diagnosis of furcation sites.Trial Registration: Patients were retrospectively registered.
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