Journal of Dental Research, Vol 63, 910-913, Copyright © 1984 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Comparison of xeroradiographs and film for detection of periapical lesions
S. C. White, L. Hollender and B. M. Gratt
Xeroradiographs and Kodak Ektaspeed film were compared with Kodak
Ultraspeed film for their ability to reveal periapical lesions. Cadaver
specimens containing teeth which were normal or demonstrated periapical
inflammatory disease were used as the test objects. These specimens were
first radiographed using xeroradiographic plates or film. Following
radiography, histologic analysis revealed the true presence or absence of
disease. Ten oral radiologists scored all xeroradiographic and film images
of the specimens for the presence of periapical disease. In general, the
observers detected about 70% of the cases with periapical disease, while
simultaneously considering about 10 to 15% of the normal surfaces to be
abnormal. Receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis of the
radiographic decisions revealed little difference in the diagnostic
performance of the observers using the various image receptors, although
both types of film and low-contrast xeroradiographs viewed in transmitted
light were all more useful than low-contrast xeroradiographs viewed in
reflected light. In terms of patient dose, both xeroradiographic images and
Ektaspeed film are preferred over Ultraspeed film.
