Comparison of the Accuracy of CBCT and MDCT Images in Measuring the Thickness of the Posterior Footplate of the Middle Ear in Iranian: -

TL;DR

This study compares CBCT and MDCT imaging for measuring middle ear structures, finding CBCT to be a reliable low-radiation alternative.

Contribution

The study demonstrates that CBCT, especially high-resolution CBCT, is as accurate as MDCT for measuring posterior footplate thickness in the middle ear.

Findings

HR-CBCT and LR-CBCT showed no significant difference in posterior footplate thickness measurements compared to MDCT.

CBCT provides high-resolution imaging with lower radiation exposure than MDCT.

Inter-modality agreement was strong across all imaging techniques.

Abstract

Advancements in radiological imaging have transitioned from two-dimensional
radiography to three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography (CBCT),
offering high spatial resolution with reduced radiation doses compared to
multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). While MDCT remains the standard
for detailed visualization of bony structures like the ossicular chain, its
higher radiation exposure is a concern. This study compares the accuracy of
high-resolution (HR) and low-resolution (LR) CBCT with MDCT in measuring the
thickness of the posterior footplate of the middle ear to identify a
reliable, low-radiation alternative.

Twelve adult human temporal bones from Imam Khomeini Hospital’s ENT
Department were imaged using HR-CBCT, LR-CBCT (Jundishapur Dental School),
and MDCT (Siemens Sensation 64-slice). Standardized imaging protocols
ensured reproducibility, with measurements of posterior footplate thickness
conducted in axial, coronal, and sagittal planes by two blinded
radiologists. Data were analyzed using SPSS v23, with inter-modality
agreement assessed via Kappa coefficient and differences evaluated with the
McNemar test.

Mean posterior footplate thickness was 2.38 mm (HR-CBCT), 2.37 mm (LR-CBCT),
and 2.23 mm (MDCT), with no significant differences (P0.05). HR-CBCT and
LR-CBCT showed comparable accuracy to MDCT.

CBCT, particularly HR-CBCT, offers a reliable, lower-radiation alternative to
MDCT for otologic imaging, maintaining high resolution for middle ear
assessments.

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