Daniela Verardi Madlum1, Hugo Gaêta-Araujo2, Danieli Moura Brasil2, Carlos Augusto Souza Lima3, Matheus L Oliveira2, Francisco Haiter-Neto2. 1. Department of Oral Diagnosis, Division of Oral Radiology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil. Electronic address: Danielaverardi@hotmail.com. 2. Department of Oral Diagnosis, Division of Oral Radiology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil. 3. Faculdade São Leopoldo Mandic, Instituto de Pesquisas São Leopoldo Mandic, Division of Oral Radiology, Campinas, Brazil.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the influence of the radiographic image file format and the transmission application (app) on the diagnosis of proximal caries lesions. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty bitewing radiographs of 40 posterior human teeth placed in phantoms were acquired using the Digora Toto digital sensor. All images were exported as TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), BMP (Windows Bitmap), PNG (Portable Network Graphics), and JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) and transmitted online via WhatsApp and Messenger. Five examiners evaluated the radiographs with no online transmission and as transmitted through the 2 apps for the presence of proximal caries lesions using a 5-point scale. The reference standard for caries lesions was established using micro-computed tomography. Two-way analysis of variance compared values of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (α = .05). The kappa test was used to assess intra- and interexaminer agreement. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values showed no significant differences in the diagnosis of proximal caries lesions between the different image file formats (P ≥ .773) and transmission apps (P ≥ .608). Intraexaminer agreement was substantial (κ = 0.742) and interexaminer agreement was moderate (κ = 0.475). CONCLUSION: The digital file format and transmission app did not influence the radiographic diagnosis of proximal caries lesions.
OBJECTIVES: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the influence of the radiographic image file format and the transmission application (app) on the diagnosis of proximal caries lesions. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty bitewing radiographs of 40 posterior human teeth placed in phantoms were acquired using the Digora Toto digital sensor. All images were exported as TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), BMP (Windows Bitmap), PNG (Portable Network Graphics), and JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) and transmitted online via WhatsApp and Messenger. Five examiners evaluated the radiographs with no online transmission and as transmitted through the 2 apps for the presence of proximal caries lesions using a 5-point scale. The reference standard for caries lesions was established using micro-computed tomography. Two-way analysis of variance compared values of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (α = .05). The kappa test was used to assess intra- and interexaminer agreement. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values showed no significant differences in the diagnosis of proximal caries lesions between the different image file formats (P ≥ .773) and transmission apps (P ≥ .608). Intraexaminer agreement was substantial (κ = 0.742) and interexaminer agreement was moderate (κ = 0.475). CONCLUSION: The digital file format and transmission app did not influence the radiographic diagnosis of proximal caries lesions.