Accuracy of Linear Cephalometric Measurements with Scanned Lateral Cephalograms

Digital Cephalometry needs to be as accurate as conventional cephalometry in order to be taken as a standard of care in contemporary orthodontics. Objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of linear cephalometric measurements on scanned cephalograms with manual tracing as the gold standard. Cephalometric analysis of specified linear measurements was performed on cephalometric radiographs manually. Radiographs were subsequently scanned and the images were analyzed digitally with a computer software for the same measurements. Paired sample t tests were used for statistical significance (p<0.05). Clinical significance was set as more than 2mm difference between the methods for any linear measurement. Cephalometric comparisons between original and digital images showed statistically significant differences for S-Go, N-Me and ANS-Me. None of the means of the difference between the two methods exceeded 2mm. Although some measurements showed statistically significant differences, the difference was regarded as clinically insignificant. Scanned cephalograms can be safely used for linear cephalometric analysis.