J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.  2011 Dec;37(6):477-482. 10.5125/jkaoms.2011.37.6.477.

Study on bone healing process following cyst enucleation using fractal analysis

• Lim HJ
• Lee SS
• Kim WK
• Ohn BH
• Choi SM
• Oh SR
• Min SK
• Lee J

• KMID: 2136984
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5125/jkaoms.2011.37.6.477

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
Bone regeneration of cystic defects of the jaws after a cyst treatment requires lengthy healing periods. Generally, the bony changes are observed periodically through a visual radiographic reading as well as by the clinical opinion and radiographic images (panorama, periapical view), but it is difficult to compare the objective bony changes using only the radiographic density. In addition, it is difficult to observe minute bony changes through a visual radiographic reading, which can lead to a subjective judgment. This study exmined the bone density after the enucleation of a jaw cyst by fractal analysis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Eighteen patients with a cystic lesion on the jaw were assessed. Panoramic radiographs were taken preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after cyst enucleation. The images were analyzed by fractal analysis.
RESULTS
The mean fractal dimensions increased immediately after surgery and 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The postoperative 6 and 12 months fractal dimension was similar to the controls.
CONCLUSION
Fractal analysis was used to overcome the limit of a subjective reading during an assessment of bone regeneration after cyst enucleation.

Keyword

Cyst enucleation; Bone regeneration; Fractal dimension

MeSH Terms

Bone Density
Bone Regeneration
Fractals
Humans
Jaw
Jaw Cysts
Judgment

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Image registration processing by image subtraction tool program (Sunny, Biomedisys Co. Ltd., Seoul, Korea). A, B. Before registration. C, D. Reference point selection. E, F. After registration. Hun-Jun Lim et al: Study on bone healing process following cyst enucleation using fractal analysis. J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg 2011

• 

  Fig. 2. Selection of region of interest. A. Selection of lesion region of interest (ROI). B. Selection of control ROI. Hun-Jun Lim et al: Study on bone healing process following cyst enucleation using fractal analysis. J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg 2011

• 

  Fig. 3. Image processing. A. Original region of interest image. B. Gaussian blurring. C. Subtract between (A) and (B). D. Add 128. E. Conversion to binary image. F. Erode and dilation. G. Skeletonize. Hun-Jun Lim et al: Study on bone healing process following cyst enucleation using fractal analysis. J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg 2011

Reference

References

1. Peterson LJ. Contemporary oral and maxillofacial surgery. 4th ed.