Accuracy and Repeatability of Computer Aided Cervical Vertebra Landmarking in Cephalogram

摘要

The accuracy and repeatability of computer aided cervical vertebra landmarking (CACVL) were investigated in cephalogram.120 adolescents (60 boys,60 girls) aged from 9.1 to 17.2 years old were randomly selected.Twenty-seven landmarks from the second to fifth cervical vertebrae on the lat-eral cephalogram were identified.In this study,the system of CACVL was developed and used to iden-tify and calculate the landmarks by fast marching method and parabolic curve fitting.The accuracy and repeatability in CACVL group were compared with those in two manual landmarking groups [orthodon-tic experts (OE) group and orthodontic novices (ON) group].The results showed that,as for the accu-racy,there was no significant difference between CACVL group and OE group no matter in x-axis or y-axis (P>0.05),but there was significant difference between CACVL group and ON group,as well as OE group and ON group in both axes (P<0.05).As for the repeatability,CACVL group was more reli-able than OE group and ON group in both axes.It is concluded that CACVL has the same or higher ac-curacy,better repeatability and less workload than manual landmarking methods.It's reliable for cervi-cal parameters identification on the lateral cephalogram and cervical vertebral maturation prediction in orthodontic practice and research.