Quantitative assessment of periimplant bone density (HU) on CBCT image

CBCT 영상에서 무치악부 임프란트 매식체 주위골 골밀도(HU)의 정량적 평가

Purpose: The primary aims of this retrospective study were to compare subjective bone quality and bone quality based on the Hounsfield scale in different segments of the edentulous jaw, and to establish quantitative and objective assessment of the bone quality. Materials and Methods: Twenty eight randomly selected cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) scans were analyzed. For evaluation one hundred and twelve edentulous areas were selected. Implant recipient sites were evaluated visually for Lekholm and Zarb classification. The same sites were subsequently evaluated digitally using the Hounsfield scale with Vimplant$2.0^{TM}$, and the results were correlated with visual classification. Data was subject for statistical analysis in order to determine correlation between recorded HU and the regions of the mouth with the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The highest unit/mean density value (311 HU) was found in the anterior mandible, followed by 259 HU for the posterior mandible, 216 HU for the anterior maxilla, and 127 HU for the posterior maxilla. These results demonstrate a strong correlation for HU depending on the region of the mouth (p<0.001). The relationship between HU and type 4 bone was found to be significant (r=0.74). Conclusion: Knowledge of the Hounsfield value as a quantitative measurement of bone density can be helpful as a diagnostic tool by using $CBMercuRa6^{TM}$ with $Vimplant^{TM}$ software.