Scientific Reports (Apr 2023)

MR-orthopantomography in operative dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery: a proof of concept study

  • Adib Al-Haj Husain,
  • Valérie Schmidt,
  • Silvio Valdec,
  • Bernd Stadlinger,
  • Sebastian Winklhofer,
  • Daphne Schönegg,
  • Stefan Sommer,
  • Mutlu Özcan,
  • Nadin Al-Haj Husain,
  • Marco Piccirelli

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33483-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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Abstract This prospective study aimed to present, compare, and evaluate the suitability of five different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols (3D double-echo steady-state (DESS), 3D fast spin echo short-tau inversion recovery (SPACE-STIR), 3D fast spin echo spectral attenuated inversion recovery (SPACE-SPAIR), volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (T1-VIBE-Dixon), and ultrashort echo time (UTE)) and for orthopantomogram (OPG)-like MRI reconstructions using a novel mandibular coil. Three readers assessed MR-OPGs of 21 volunteers regarding technical image quality (4, excellent; 0, severely reduced), susceptibility to artifacts (3, absence; 0, massive), and visualization of anatomical structures in the oral cavity and surrounding skeletal structures (4, fine details visible; 0, no structures visible). Average image quality was good (3.29 ± 0.83) for all MRI protocols, with UTE providing the best image quality (3.52 ± 0.62) and no to minor artifacts (2.56 ± 0.6). Full diagnostic interpretability of the osseous structures is best in VIBE-Dixon and UTE MR-OPGs. DESS provided excellent visualization of the finest details of the nervous tissue (3.95 ± 0.22). Intra-reader and inter-reader agreement between the readers was good to excellent for all protocols (ICCs 0.812–0.957). MR-OPGs provide indication-specific accurate imaging of the oral cavity and could contribute to the early detection of pathologies, staging, and radiological follow-up of oral and maxillofacial diseases.