Diagnostic reproducibility of the second mesiobuccal canal by CBCT: influence of potential factors

• DOI: 10.1007/s11282-015-0210-z
• Publication Date: 2015-05-16T08:59:51Z
• Authors: Mariana B. Vizzotto; Priscila F. Da Si...; Gabriela S. Liedke; Nádia A. Arus; Francisco Montagner; Heraldo L. D. Sil...; Heloísa E. D. Sil...
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine

The use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in endodontics includes the assessment of endodontic pathologies, presurgical planning, and canal morphology. The performance of CBCT scans to observe pathologic conditions and anatomic structures in three-dimensional reconstructions has proven to be incredibly useful. The quality of the images, the conditions for their analysis, and the operator’s skill and care during the image acquisition strongly affect the incidence of diagnostic errors. In the same way, the validity of any test for diagnosis depends on its reliability. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of three observers to accurately confirm the existence and absence of MB2 canals in human first upper molars with different root conditions. Three trained and calibrated dentists from a postgraduate program on oral and maxillofacial radiology were asked to identify MB2 canals in 82 extracted human first upper molars under different conditions depending on the MB1 root canal (non-filled, filled, and deobturated). Kappa values among the observers were obtained. The agreement among the examiners ranged from 0.39 to 0.68. The kappa values were more impaired by the root condition than by the voxel size. Moreover, experience in CBCT image evaluation played a role in agreement among the examiners. The results suggest that root condition and professional experience have more influence for agreement during MB2 diagnosis than voxel size.