Use of micro‐computed tomography for the assessment of periapical lesions in small rodents: a systematic review

Abstract

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the literature on the acquisition-, reconstruction- and analysis parameters of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) for the assessment of periapical lesions in rats and mice, and to illustrate the effect of variation in these parameters. The PubMed database was searched from 2000 to January 2015 (English-language publications) for reports on the use of micro-CT to evaluate periapical lesions in rats and mice. QUADAS criteria were used to rate the quality of the studies. To illustrate the effect of variations in acquisition-, reconstruction-, and analysis parameters on images of periapical lesions, micro-CT examination of two hemi-mandibles of mice, with periapical lesions around the first molar was undertaken. Twenty-one studies were identified, which analysed periapical lesions in rats or mice using micro-CT. According to the QUADAS, no study was classified as high-, seven were classified as moderate-, and 14 as low quality. The effect of variation in parameters was that voxel size may interfere with image sharpness, reconstruction may interfere with image sharpness and contrast, and inadequate plane orientation may alter the size of the periapical lesion. Nonpersonalized ROIs resulted in areas that were not part of the periapical lesion. Changing the limits of the threshold for bone-tissue visualization increased lesion size. There is no defined protocol for acquiring and analysing micro-CT images of periapical lesions in rats and mice. Furthermore, acquisition-, reconstruction- and analysis parameters are not adequately explained, which may compromise the scientific impact of the studies.

Micro‐CT analysis of chronic apical periodontitis induced by several specific pathogens

“…However, these methods can only provide 2D or linear data. These 2D projections of 3D structures often fail to provide an adequate representation of the region of interest, resulting in a loss of quantification accuracy (Kalatzis-Sousa et al 2017). Micro-CT analysis can image and evaluate the 3D structures of hard tissues in a highly accurate manner .…”

Effects of alcohol and nicotine consumption on the development of apical periodontitis in rats: a correlative micro‐computed tomographic, histological and immunohistochemical study

“…Micro‐CT is the best method of diagnostic imaging of periapical lesions in rats (Kalatzis‐Sousa et al . 2017). Radiographic evaluation does not reflect the real extent of the destructive process in the periapical tissues and generally under‐represents the size of the lesion (Ferreira et al .…”

“…2014, Kalatzis‐Sousa et al . 2017). The images of periapical bone destruction obtained by micro‐CT provide results equivalent to those observed through histology, which is considered the gold standard for assessing apical periodontitis (Balto et al .…”

“…Personalized ROIs allow a better delineation of the periapical lesion and promote the more accurate measures (Kalatzis‐Sousa et al . 2017).…”

Ten Years of Micro-CT in Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery: A Literature Overview

“…Root canal filling materials, as endodontic treatments, have, as their objective, the appropriate sealing of the space caused by the root canal [47]. The analysis of the literature systematic reviews and overviews recorded by the database search evidenced an amount of studies focused on the application of micro-CT for the evaluation of the root canal and periapical lesions [48]. The morphology [49], the porosity of the endodontic materials [47], the assessment of different techniques of cavity preparation [21,50] or of a specific shaper [51], the shaping effects of instruments and instrumentation comparing the root canal morphology before and after the preparation [52] and the effectiveness of different instrumentation procedures in removing feeling materials [53], are the main aspects investigated.…”