A volumetric study of mandibular condyles in orthognathic patients by semiautomatic segmentation

Abstract

Purpose This study was conducted to elucidate volumetric data of mandibular condyles of orthognathic patients by analyzing cone beam computed tomography images based upon semiautomatic segmentation. Methods Cone beam computed tomography images of 87 patients with malocclusions were analyzed in this retrospective study. Patients were between 17 and 53 years old and diagnosed with Angle class I, II, or III malocclusion. By using the validated open-source software “ITK-SNAP,” the volumetric measurements of 174 mandibular condyles were performed. Volumetric analysis was performed according to intra-subject side differences by paired Student t test. In accordance to inter-subject side, gender, age and type of malocclusion differences bivariate analysis and ANOVA were applied. Results The mean volume for the right condyle was 1.378 ± 0.447 cm3, with a maximum of 2.379 cm3 and a minimum of 0.121 cm3. The mean volume for the left side was 1.435 ± 0.474 cm3, with a maximum of 3.264 cm3 and a minimum of 0.109 cm3. Bivariate analysis indicated a highly significant inter-subject difference between the volume of the left and right mandibular condyles (p < 0.01). Females had a significantly smaller condyle volume than males (p < 0.05 left condyle; p < 0.01 right condyle). Conclusion The fact that shape and volume of mandibular condyles show a high susceptibility to pathological alterations and particularly malocclusions makes a precise knowledge about volumetric changes indispensable. Our results show that significant inter-subject differences in condyle volume could be found with respect to the side and gender. Larger volumes could be assessed for the left condyle and for male patients.

Suggestion of a new standard in measuring the mandible via MRI and an overview of reference values in young women

“…The condylar volumes measured by Serindere et al were 1546.94 mm 3 (SD ± 286.71) on the right side, and 1526.04 mm 3 (SD ± 282.55) on the left side [ 16 ], and we assessed similar volumes of 1584.21 mm 3 (SD ± 415.77) on the right side and 1641.67 mm 3 (SD ± 389.30) on the left side. Lentzen et al assessed a mean condylar volume of 1353 mm 3 (SD ± 0.466) on the left and 1291 mm 3 (SD ± 0.449) on the right [ 21 ], which is smaller than our results and the results published by Serindere et al, but is similar to the results of Farronato et al [ 14 ]. Finally, the mean condylar volume was assessed as 1339.65 mm 3 (SD ± 494.93) from a study with 100 healthy female participants by Al-koshab et al [ 17 ].…”

BMP2 rs1005464 is associated with mandibular condyle size variation

“…Regarding side effects, previous studies have shown that shape, size, and volume present differences between the right and left condyles 36 , 37 , 39 , 40 . In the present sample, only a side effect on the mandibular condyle shape was detected.…”

“…In another aspect, the evidence is controversial regarding the influence of sex on condylar shape 30 , 32 – 35 ; however, concerning to its size and volume, studies consistently show that men have larger condyles 21 , 36 – 39 . Our findings were in line with this previous evidence.…”

Analysis of the Volumetric Asymmetry of the Mandibular Condyles Using CBCT

“… 5 These studies have analysed the condylar volume in relation to age, gender, dental status, and type of malocclusion. 6 , 7 , 8 Studies have revealed that there is a volumetric asymmetry between the right and left condyles in experimental rats. 9 The researchers attributed similar condylar volumetric asymmetry in experimental rats to unilateral chewing habits.…”