ABSTRACT
Statement of the Problem: Insufficient information about the anatomical positions and structure of mandibular canal provokes unwanted damage to this important structure of mandible
Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the visibility and anatomical variations of mandibular canal in digital panoramic radiographs of dentulous and edentulous patients in a sample of Iranian population
Materials and Method: In this retrospective-analytical research, 249 digital panoramic radiographs in dentulous group and 126 in edentulous group were studied by an expert oral and maxillofacial radiologist. In both groups, the visibility of canal borders in anterior, middle, and posterior areas were examined. In dentulous group, the distance between the canal and apex of the first and second molars were measured. Canal-to-alveolar crest distance and lower mandibular border was measured in three different points for both groups. Finally, the upper-lower positions of canals were determined
Results: In both groups, most visibility occurred in 1/3 of posterior and the least visibility was detected in 1/3 of anterior, with the intermediate being the most visible part [Type 2]. There was no significant difference between the left and right sides in all cases. In dentulous group, no correlation was found between the visibility, age, and gender [p> 0.05]; however, canal position was related to gender [p= 0.03 and p= 0.04 in right and left sides, respectively]. High position was more frequent in females and intermediate position was more common in males. In edentulous group, no correlation was found between age, gender, and canal position [p> 0.05]
Conclusion: The most visibility of mandibular canal was in its third posterior and the least was in its third anterior part. Although the middle position of canal was more frequently visible than the high position in this study, it does not refute the possibility of damaging the mandibular canal in critical surgeries
ABSTRACT
Objective: Elevated nucleated red blood cell [NRBC] count is introduced as a potential marker of intra-uterine growth restriction [IUGR]. To investigate the probable association regardless of any known underlying disease, we aimed to study disturbances in NRBC count in infants experiencing idiopathic IUGR
Materials and methods: Twenty three infants regarded IUGR without any known cause were chosen to be compared to 48 normal neonates. Blood samples were collected instantly after birth and the same measurements were done in both groups
Results: NRBC count/100 white blood cells was significantly higher in the IUGR group [P value < 0.001]. pH measurements did not reveal any significant difference
Conclusion: Increased NRBC count in cases of idiopathic IUGR in absence of chronic hypoxia could strengthen its predictive value suggested in previous studies. It could help early IUGR detection and beneficial intervention
ABSTRACT
Panoramic radiography is used extensively in the field of dentistry as a screening method. In endodontic treatment, the diagnosis and evaluation of periapical area is very important. However, using advanced imaging such as cone beam computed tomography [CBCT] has increased diagnostic ability, but it must be used precisely and in special condition. The aim of this study was to compare diagnostic value of digital panoramic view and CBCT in diagnosis of apical lucent lesion. In this cross-sectional study, digital panoramic view and CBCT of 47 patients [573 apical portions of root] who had referred to maxillofacial radiology clinic for maxillary and or mandibular CBCT procedures were assessed. All of the selected patients needed these images as their treatment protocol. According to order of CBCT [maxilla, mandible and both], the teeth of the same jaw in digital panoramic radiography by a maxillofacial radiologist were evaluated. After data enterance, agreement, Sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratio [positive and negative] were assessed totally and for each jaw separately with 95 percent confidence interval. 0.05 was established as a level of significant. Periapical radiolucency in 15.9% of apical areas in CBCT and in digital panoramic view in 4.2% of them was detected. Overall, sensitivity and specificity of digital panoramic view were 26.4% and 100% respectively. Sensitivity of panoramic view in diagnosis of periapical lucency in mandible was higher than maxilla. According to kappa analysis, the agreement level between panoramic and CBCT was assigned low [kappa=0.374]. Although panoramic is a routine screening method in field of dentistry, it is not accurate in diagnosis of the presence of periapical lesions. This limitation in maxilla is more than mandible