OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the application of thyroid collars (TCs) affects cephalometric landmark identification. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized and observer-blinded diagnostic study with head films taken from 2 groups was undertaken, with 1 group wearing TCs during radiography (n = 100) and 1 group not wearing TCs (n = 100). The interobserver reproducibility of 15 landmarks was evaluated using 1-way analysis of variance and independent samples t test to compare the groups. RESULTS: The total mean error radius of the non-TC group (1.28 +/- 1.47 mm) was smaller (P < or = .001) than that of the TC group (1.57 +/- 1.58 mm). Three landmarks located on the hyoid bone and on the second and third cervical vertebrae were identified as the main confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: Personal lead shielding of the thyroid gland affects landmark identification, but the overall clinical effect is negligible. Thyroid collars should be routinely applied during cephalometric radiography if cephalometric analyses are limited to structures above the second cervical vertebra.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the application of thyroid collars (TCs) affects cephalometric landmark identification. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized and observer-blinded diagnostic study with head films taken from 2 groups was undertaken, with 1 group wearing TCs during radiography (n = 100) and 1 group not wearing TCs (n = 100). The interobserver reproducibility of 15 landmarks was evaluated using 1-way analysis of variance and independent samples t test to compare the groups. RESULTS: The total mean error radius of the non-TC group (1.28 +/- 1.47 mm) was smaller (P < or = .001) than that of the TC group (1.57 +/- 1.58 mm). Three landmarks located on the hyoid bone and on the second and third cervical vertebrae were identified as the main confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: Personal lead shielding of the thyroid gland affects landmark identification, but the overall clinical effect is negligible. Thyroid collars should be routinely applied during cephalometric radiography if cephalometric analyses are limited to structures above the second cervical vertebra.
Authors: Peter Hiles; Patrick Gilligan; John Damilakis; Eric Briers; Cristian Candela-Juan; Dario Faj; Shane Foley; Guy Frija; Claudio Granata; Hugo de Las Heras Gala; Ruben Pauwels; Marta Sans Merce; Georgios Simantirakis; Eliseo Vano Journal: Insights Imaging Date: 2021-12-23