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@ARTICLE{Ruetters:303195,
author = {M. Ruetters and H. Gehrig and C. Mertens and S. Sen and
T.-S. Kim and H.-P. Schlemmer$^*$ and C. Ziener$^*$ and S.
Schoenberg and M. Froelich and M. Kachelrieß$^*$ and S.
Sawall$^*$},
title = {{O}pportunistic {D}iagnostics of {D}ental {I}mplants in
{R}outine {C}linical {P}hoton-{C}ounting {CT}
{A}cquisitions.},
journal = {Journal of imaging},
volume = {11},
number = {7},
issn = {2313-433X},
address = {Basel},
publisher = {MDPI},
reportid = {DKFZ-2025-01546},
pages = {215},
year = {2025},
note = {#LA:E025#},
abstract = {Two-dimensional imaging is still commonly used in
dentistry, but does not provide the three-dimensional
information often required for the accurate assessment of
dental structures. Photon-counting computed tomography
(PCCT), a new three-dimensional modality mainly used in
general medicine, has shown promising potential for dental
applications. With growing digitalization and
cross-disciplinary integration, using PCCT data from other
medical fields is becoming increasingly relevant.
Conventional CT scans, such as those of the cervical spine,
have so far lacked the resolution to reliably evaluate
dental structures or implants. This study evaluates the
diagnostic utility of PCCT for visualizing peri-implant
structures in routine clinical photon-counting CT
acquisitions and assesses the influence of metal artifact
reduction (MAR) algorithms on image quality. Ten dental
implants were retrospectively included in this IRB-approved
study. Standard PCCT scans were reconstructed at multiple
keV levels with and without MAR. Quantitative image analysis
was performed with respect to contrast and image noise.
Qualitative evaluation of peri-implant tissues, implant
shoulder, and apex was performed independently by two
experienced dental professionals using a five-point Likert
scale. Inter-reader agreement was measured using intraclass
correlation coefficients (ICCs). PCCT enabled
high-resolution imaging of all peri-implant regions with
excellent inter-reader agreement (ICC > 0.75 for all
structures). Non-MAR reconstructions consistently
outperformed MAR reconstructions across all evaluated
regions. MAR led to reduced clarity, particularly in
immediate peri-implant areas, without significant benefit
from energy level adjustments. All imaging protocols were
deemed diagnostically acceptable. This is the first in vivo
study demonstrating the feasibility of opportunistic dental
diagnostics using PCCT in a clinical setting. While MAR
reduces peripheral artifacts, it adversely affects image
clarity near implants. PCCT offers excellent image quality
for peri-implant assessments and enables incidental
detection of dental pathologies without additional radiation
exposure. PCCT opens new possibilities for opportunistic,
three-dimensional dental diagnostics during non-dental CT
scans, potentially enabling earlier detection of clinically
significant pathologies.},
keywords = {X-ray computed (Other) / dental (Other) / dental implants
(Other) / incidental findings (Other) / radiography (Other)
/ tomography (Other)},
cin = {E010 / E025},
ddc = {004},
cid = {I:(DE-He78)E010-20160331 / I:(DE-He78)E025-20160331},
pnm = {315 - Bildgebung und Radioonkologie (POF4-315)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-315},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
pubmed = {pmid:40710602},
doi = {10.3390/jimaging11070215},
url = {https://inrepo02.dkfz.de/record/303195},
}