Korean J Oral Maxillofac Radiol.  2010 Mar;40(1):33-38.

Diagnostic ability of panoramic radiography for mandibular fractures

• Lee JH
• Jung YH
• Cho BH
• Hwang DS

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of panoramic radiographs for detection of mandibular fractures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The sample was comprised of 65 patients (55 fractured, 10 non-fractured) with 92 fracture sites confirmed by multi-detector computed tomography (CT). Panoramic radiographs were evaluated for mandibular fractures by six examiners; two oral & maxillofacial radiologists (observer A&B), two oral & maxillofacial surgeons (observer C&D), and two general dentists (observer E&F).
RESULTS
Sensitivity of panoramic radiography for mandibular fractures was 95.7% in observer A&B, 93.5% in observer C&D and 80.4% in observer E&F. The lowest sensitivity was shown in symphyseal/parasymphyseal areas, followed by subcondylar/condylar regions.
CONCLUSION
Panoramic radiography is adequate for detection of mandibular fractures. However, additional multidetector CT is recommended to ascertain some indecisive fractures of symphysis and condyle, and in complicated fractures.

Keyword

Radiography, Panoramic; Mandible; Mandibular fractures

MeSH Terms

Dentists
Humans
Mandible
Mandibular Fractures
Radiography, Panoramic