Influence of interpretation conditions on the subjective differentiation of radiographic contrast of images obtained with a digital intraoral system

Carlos Augusto Souza Lima; Deborah Queiroz Freitas; Glaucia Maria Bovi Ambrosano; Francisco Haiter-Neto; Matheus Lima Oliveira

doi:10.1016/j.oooo.2019.01.003

Influence of interpretation conditions on the subjective differentiation of radiographic contrast of images obtained with a digital intraoral system

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2019 May;127(5):444-450. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2019.01.003. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Authors

Carlos Augusto Souza Lima¹, Deborah Queiroz Freitas¹, Glaucia Maria Bovi Ambrosano², Francisco Haiter-Neto¹, Matheus Lima Oliveira³

Affiliations

¹ Division of Oral Radiology, Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil.
² Department of Community Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil.
³ Division of Oral Radiology, Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil. Electronic address: Matheuso@unicamp.br.

PMID: 30738753
DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2019.01.003

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate interpretation conditions in the subjective in vitro assessment of dental tissue-equivalent radiographic contrast.

Study design: Radiographic images with the density of dental structures were randomized and arranged in 20 sequences with images juxtaposed and separated. Twelve observers interpreted the sequence among the most radiolucent and radiopaque images with 3 displays, 3 horizontal viewing angles, and 3 ambient light conditions. The evaluation time was recorded. The hit percentage was calculated for each evaluation. Three-way analysis of variance with Tukey's test was used to compare the conditions of interpretation. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to assess agreement (α = 0.05).

Results: No differences in hit percentages were found among the 3 displays or among the juxtaposed and separated images. Increased hit percentages were recorded for images assessed at 90° compared with 45° for all displays and in high ambient light vs intermediate and low light at 90°. Increased evaluation time was recorded for the consumer-grade display under high ambient light and for the separated images.

Conclusions: The subjective in vitro assessment of dental tissue-equivalent radiographic contrast is not influenced by computer display, which should be viewed at a horizontal viewing angle of 90° and under high ambient light. Longer evaluation times may be expected with consumer-grade displays.

MeSH terms

Data Display*
Mouth / diagnostic imaging*
Observer Variation
Radiographic Image Enhancement