Conebeam CT of the Head and Neck, Part 2: Clinical Applications

Abstract

SUMMARY: Conebeam x-ray CT (CBCT) is being increasingly used for point-of-service head and neck and dentomaxillofacial imaging. This technique provides relatively high isotropic spatial resolution of osseous structures with a reduced radiation dose compared with conventional CT scans. In this second installment in a 2-part review, the clinical applications in the dentomaxillofacial and head and neck regions will be explored, with particular emphasis on diagnostic imaging of the sinuses, temporal bone, and craniofacial structures. Several controversies surrounding the emergence of CBCT technology will also be addressed.

Conebeam CT (CBCT) is an advancement in CT imaging that has begun to emerge as a potentially low-dose cross-sectional technique for visualizing bony structures in the head and neck. The physical principles, image quality parameters, and technical limitations relevant to CBCT imaging were discussed in Part 1 of this 2-part series. The second part presented here will highlight the evidence related to CBCT applications in head and neck as well as dentomaxillofacial imaging. Controversial aspects of this technology will also be addressed, including limitations in image quality and its often office-based operational model.

CBCT was first adapted for potential clinical use in 1982 at the Mayo Clinic Biodynamics Research Laboratory.¹ Initial interest focused primarily on applications in angiography in which soft-tissue resolution could be sacrificed in favor of high temporal and spatial-resolving capabilities. Since that time, several CBCT systems have been developed for use both in the interventional suite and for general applications in CT angiography.^2,3 Exploration of CBCT technologies for use in radiation therapy guidance began in 1992,^4,5 followed by integration of the first CBCT imaging system into the gantry of a linear accelerator in 1999.⁶

The first CBCT system became commercially available for dentomaxillofacial imaging in 2001 (NewTom QR DVT 9000; Quantitative Radiology, Verona, Italy). Comparatively low dosing requirements and a relatively compact design have also led to intense interest in surgical planning and intraoperative CBCT applications, particularly in the head and neck but also in spinal, thoracic, abdominal, and orthopedic procedures.^7-11 Diagnostic applications in CT mammography and head and neck imaging are also under evaluation.^12-14 The technical and clinical considerations pertaining to CBCT imaging in many of these applications have been the subjects of several recent reviews.^15-19 The recent review by Dörfler et al¹⁶ of the neurointerventional applications of CBCT is of particular interest to the field of neuroradiology.

The discussion below will focus on the diagnostic and treatment-planning applications of CBCT in dentomaxillofacial and head and neck imaging. Commercially available CBCT systems for dentomaxillofacial imaging include the CB MercuRay and CB Throne (Hitachi Medical, Kashiwi-shi, Chiba-ken, Japan), 3D Accuitomo products (J. Morita Manufacturing, Kyoto, Japan), and iCAT (Xoran Technologies, Ann Arbor, Mich; and Imaging Sciences International, Hatfield, Pa). Similar systems designed for point-of-service head and neck imaging have also recently become available (MiniCAT, Xoran Technologies; 3D Accuitomo and 3D Accuitomo 170, J Morita Manufacturing; ILUMA Cone Beam CT, IMTEC, Ardmore, Okla and GE Healthcare, Chalfont St. Giles, UK).

Dentomaxillofacial Imaging

Advanced cross-sectional imaging techniques such as CT are used in dentomaxillofacial imaging to solve complex diagnostic and treatment-planning problems, such as those encountered in craniofacial fractures, endosseous dental-implant planning, and orthodontics, among others. With the advent of CBCT technology, cross-sectional imaging that had previously been outsourced to medical CT scanners has begun to take place in dental offices.

Early dedicated CBCT scanners for dental use were characterized by Mozzo et al²⁰ and Arai et al²¹ in the late 1990s. Since then, more commercial models have become available, inciting research in many fields of dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery. To date, multiple ex vivo studies have attempted to establish the ability of CBCT images to accurately reproduce the geometric dimensions of the maxillodental structures and the mandible.^22-25

A relatively low patient dose for dedicated dentomaxillofacial scans is a potentially attractive feature of CBCT imaging. The dosing characteristics of dentomaxillofacial scanners were discussed in Part 1 of this series. An effective dose in the broad range of 13–498 μSv can be expected, with most scans falling between 30 and 80 μSv, depending on exposure parameters and the selected FOV size. In comparison, standard panoramic radiography delivers ∼13.3 μSv and multidetector CT with a similar FOV delivers ∼860 μSv.^26,27 Image quality can vary considerably with dose; images acquired with higher radiation exposure often produce superior image quality.

The discussion below reviews potential CBCT applications in the dentomaxillofacial regions. Most of this research remains preliminary; further prospective and outcomes-based research is required to make informed recommendations on the appropriate use of CBCT in dentomaxillofacial imaging.

Implantology

Cross-sectional imaging techniques can be an invaluable tool during preoperative planning for complicated endosseous dental implantation procedures.²⁸ Conventional linear tomography and CT have traditionally been used in presurgical imaging, though the former has overlain ghosting artifacts and the latter has relatively high radiation exposure and cost.²⁹

Practitioners have begun using office-based CBCT scanners in preoperative imaging for implant procedures, capitalizing on availability and low dosing requirements. A review by Guerrero et al³⁰ outlines the clinical and technical aspects of CBCT, which have popularized this new technique. Preliminary evidence addresses the ability of CBCT images to characterize mandibular and alveolar bone morphology, as well as to visualize the maxillary sinuses, incisive canal, mandibular canal, and mental foramina, all structures particularly important in surgical planning for dental implantation.^29,31,32 Several studies have described the 3D geometric accuracy of CBCT imaging in the maxillodental and mandibular regions as well.^22-25 Examples of CBCT imaging studies for implant planning and visualization of the mandibular canal are presented in Figures 1 and 2 respectively.

Fig 1.

Noncontrast dentomaxillofacial CBCT scan (iCAT) of a patient with congenital absence of the maxillary lateral incisors (0.4-mm pixels, 120 kVp, 18.66 mA). A, Reconstructed panoramic view of the maxilla demonstrates bilateral lateral incisor absence (arrows). B, Sequential parasagittal/oblique views through the maxillary alveolar bone demonstrate planned implant locations (arrows).

Fig 2.

Noncontrast dentomaxillofacial CBCT scan (iCAT) of a patient with an impacted left mandibular third molar (0.4-mm pixels, 120 kVp, 18.66 mA). A, Axial view through the mandible demonstrates the impacted molar on the left side (arrowhead). B−D, Coronal (B and C) and sagittal (D) views through the mandibular body depict the proximity of the underlying mandibular canal (arrows) to the impacted molar.

Craniofacial Fractures

Imaging of complex high-contrast bony structural pathology such as craniofacial fractures is a logical application for CBCT. Terakado et al³³ reported a case series in 2000, which included 2 patients with facial trauma for whom CBCT was used to characterize a mandibular head fracture, dental root fractures, and the displacement of anterior maxillary teeth. Since that time, several additional reports have extolled the low-dose high-resolution properties of CBCT imaging in preoperative characterization of mandibular and orbital floor fractures.^34-36 In orbital floor fractures, although CBCT can demonstrate orbital content herniation, it lacks the contrast resolution to differentiate the tissue composition of the herniated materials.³⁵

The intraoperative uses of C-arm CBCT systems have been evaluated for fractures of the zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC), demonstrating the feasibility of CBCT use in surgical navigation, localization of bony fragments, and evaluation of screw anchorage and plate fittings with low levels of metal artifact.^37,38 These results have been corroborated in a study of postoperative patients with ZMC fractures, though investigators noted that poorly aerated ethmoidal air cells limit the ability of CBCT to visualize the medial orbital wall.³⁹ Low bone density in older patients also reduced bony structural definition in their series. Intraoperative efficacy has been evaluated in mandibular fracture fixation as well.⁴⁰

Orthodontics

Cross-sectional imaging affords overlay-free visualization of structural and anatomic relationships important for addressing many radiologic questions in orthodontics. The current standard of care for overlay-free imaging in orthodontics is conventional CT.⁴¹ Low-cost office-based CBCT imaging has recently been explored for orthodontic applications, including assessment of palatal bone thickness, skeletal growth patterns, dental age estimation, upper airway evaluation, and visualization of impacted teeth.^42-47 Although preliminary results are encouraging, established cross-sectional techniques such as conventional CT provide superior image quality of dental and surrounding structures for advanced orthodontic treatment planning.⁴¹ Low dosing requirements appear to remain a benefit of CBCT when compared with conventional CT, with a routine orthodontic CBCT study delivering an effective dose of ≤61.1 μSv compared with 429.7 μSv for multisection CT.⁴⁸ Lateral cephalograms deliver 10.4 μSv in comparison, though without the benefit of 3D structural visualization.

Temporomandibular Joint

Morphologic changes of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) as depicted with conventional MR imaging, CT, and radiographic imaging are often useful in diagnosing pathologic processes such as degenerative changes and ankylosis, joint remodeling after diskectomy, malocclusion, and congenital and developmental malformations.⁴⁹ CBCT is a technique that has recently inspired research in TMJ imaging, though preliminary experiments have yet to translate into clinical studies. Several cadaveric series have explored the use of TMJ CBCT to assess periarticular bony defects, flattenings, osteophytes, and sclerotic changes.^50-53 Preliminary studies have also directly compared CBCT with radiography, multidetector row CT (MDCT), and linear tomography for detection of osseous abnormalities of the TMJ.^52,53 Although early results are promising, more research is needed before CBCT should be used clinically to assess the TMJ. A recent systematic review by Hussain et al⁵⁴ suggests that axially corrected sagittal tomography is still the method of choice in the detection of periarticular erosions and osteophytes.

Endodontics

CBCT has been explored for applications in endodontics, including periradicular surgical planning, assessment of periapical pathology, and dentoalveolar trauma evaluation.⁵⁵ The diagnostic properties of CBCT at the root apices and periradicular region have been reported in several studies.^56-58 In retrospective cohorts and case reports, CBCT has been suggested as superior to periapical radiographs in the characterization of periapical lucent lesions, reliably demonstrating lesion proximity to the maxillary sinus, sinus membrane involvement, and lesion location relative to the mandibular canal.^56-58 There may also eventually be a role for CBCT in early detection of periapical disease, which could lead to better endodontic treatment outcomes.⁵⁵ Promising results have been demonstrated in studies characterizing CBCT images for endodontic surgical planning purposes as well.^58,59

Periodontics

The first reported applications of CBCT in periodontology were for diagnostic and treatment-outcome evaluations of periodontitis.⁶⁰ Ex vivo studies later characterized the ability of CBCT to accurately reconstruct periodontal intrabony and fenestration defects, dehiscences, and root furcation involvements in comparison with radiography, MDCT, and histologic measurements.^61-65 CBCT 3D geometric accuracy has been suggested to be equal to radiography and MDCT but with better observer-rated image quality than MDCT as well as superior periodontal-defect detection than radiography.^61,62,64 Although periodontal bony defects are well visualized with CBCT, conventional radiography still affords higher quality bony contrast and delineation of the lamina dura.⁶³ CBCT ex vivo visualization of the periodontal ligament and periodontal ligament space has been evaluated in comparison with radiography with mixed results, a more recent study suggesting that CBCT visualization is still inferior to that of radiography.^61,66

Head and Neck

As CBCT imaging systems have become more widely available, interest in the intraoperative and diagnostic CBCT applications in the extracranial head and neck regions has intensified. The reported high isotropic spatial resolution and relatively low dose requirements of CBCT are characteristics that have made it particularly attractive. In the head and neck region, a premium is placed on discriminating fine anatomic detail in territories where the vascular and bony structural anatomy is particularly complex.⁸ Potential applications in sinus, temporal bone, and skull base imaging have been explored, as discussed below. Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 depict head and neck CBCT studies visualizing the paranasal sinuses; temporal bones; maxillary sinus floor and alveolar process of the maxilla; and orbital floors respectively.

Fig 3.

Noncontrast CBCT scan of a 56-year-old acquired with a sinus protocol (40 seconds, 600 frames, 0.4-mm pixels, 120 kVp, 48 mA). A, Axial section demonstrates right-sided deviation of the nasal septum and mucosal thickening in the left nasal cavity. B, Coronal section redemonstrates mucosal thickening of the left nasal cavity. C, Left paramedian sagittal section. D, Axial view of the ethmoid air cells and sphenoid sinus with mild opacification in the region of the right sphenoethmoidal recess.

Fig 4.

Noncontrast CBCT scan of a 50-year-old acquired with a temporal bone protocol (40 seconds, 600 frames, 0.3-mm-pixels, 125 kVp, 50.85 mA). A, Coronal image of the normal right temporal bone demonstrates the vestibulocochlear nerve, body and long limb of the incus, as well as the stapedial neck and crura in the fossa of the oval window. B, Axial section at the level of the right mesotympanum demonstrates the head of the malleus, short limb of the incus, and stapedial crura, as well as the cochlear nerve, tensor tympani, and mastoid part of the facial nerve VII. C, Coronal section through the left cochlea demonstrates the modiolus, tympanic part of facial nerve VII, tensor tympani, and malleus. D, Axial section through the right mesotympanum at the level of the round window demonstrates the handle of the malleus, base of cochlea, and mastoid portion of the facial nerve VII.

Fig 5.

Noncontrast CBCT scan of a 13-year-old boy acquired with a sinus protocol (40 seconds, 600 frames, 0.4-mm pixels, 120 kVp, 48 mA). A, Axial section at the level of the maxillary sinus floor demonstrates a 1.0 × 0.7 × 1.0-cm oval mass in the alveolar process of the right maxilla (arrow). B, Axial image highlights the inferior extent of the lesion in A. C and D, Coronal and sagittal images, respectively, of the lesion in A.

Fig 6.

Noncontrast CBCT scan of a 45-year-old (40 seconds, 600 frames, 0.4-mm pixels, 120 kVp, 48 mA) obtained after repair of a right orbital floor fracture. A, Axial image demonstrates a metal fixture implanted over the right orbital floor. B, Metallic implant is seen in the sagittal section.

Sinus Imaging/Frontal Recess

Comparatively low dosing requirements, high-quality bony definition, and the compact design afforded by CBCT scanners have made them attractive for office-based and intraoperative scanning of the paranasal sinuses.^67,68 To date, there have been few studies comparing image quality in paranasal sinus CBCT scans with that in MDCT. Alspaugh et al⁶⁹ did directly compare the spatial resolution obtained with CBCT scans of the paranasal sinuses with that of 16- and 64-section MDCT scanners. They concluded that 12 line pairs per centimeter (lp/cm) isotropic spatial resolution could be obtained with an effective dose of 0.17 mSv compared with a dose requirement of 0.87 mSv for 11-lp/cm spatial resolution in a 64-section MDCT scanner.

To a large degree, evidence supporting sinus CBCT imaging has emerged from exploration of intraoperative CBCT applications in endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). In preclinical cadaver studies, Rafferty et al⁶⁷ provided proof of principle for the application of C-arm CBCT imaging to ESS, concluding that both spatial and soft-tissue contrast was sufficient to aid surgical navigation in the frontal recess. More recent clinical studies have also provided qualitative evidence that intraoperative CBCT provides high-quality definition of bony anatomy, which can lead to refinement of surgical strategy.^70,71 In a series of 25 patients undergoing ESS, Batra et al⁷¹ found that residual bony partitions and stent locations could be visualized with intraoperative CBCT scans, leading to surgical revision. CBCT has also been used recently to evaluate contrast delivery during sinus irrigation after ESS.⁷²

Preliminary evidence suggests that CBCT may be suited for specific imaging tasks in the context of intraoperative and perioperative bony structural evaluations, enabling low-dose assessment of individualized paranasal sinus anatomy, surgical outcomes, and stent placements. To our knowledge, there is no current evidence, however, supporting CBCT use in general diagnostic sinus imaging owing to lack of soft-tissue contrast resolution. Furthermore, significant complications of ESS, including encephalocele, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and meningitis are unlikely to be evaluated adequately with current CBCT image quality.^73,74

Temporal Bone/Lateral Skull Base

The temporal bone was one of the earliest targets for head and neck CBCT imaging. Specific applications have been explored, including postprocedural middle and inner ear implant evaluation, visualization of the reuniting duct in the inner ear, and intraoperative temporal bone surgical guidance.^8,75,76

Preliminary evaluation of an experimental CBCT system for general temporal bone diagnostic imaging was performed by Gupta et al¹² on a small series of partially manipulated cadaveric specimens. They found that observer scores of the quality of structural visualization with CBCT were significantly higher compared with scores for MDCT. Particularly well-visualized structures included the ossicular chain, bony labyrinth of the inner ear, internal cochlear anatomy, and the facial nerve. They also noted reduced metal artifacts with cochlear implant imaging as well as improved detection of small laser-induced lesions in the ossicular chain. Gupta et al suggest that lack of soft-tissue contrast in their evaluations did not interfere with diagnostic accuracy due to the abundance of high-contrast structures housed in the temporal bone and the positive effect of higher spatial resolution on resolving some low-contrast structures such as the facial nerve.

Peltonen et al¹⁴ compared a commercially available CBCT scanner with MDCT in a study on unoperated temporal bone specimens by using a modified Likert scale (scored by 2 otologists and 1 radiologist) to assess visualization of important structures in the lateral skull base. They concluded that CBCT was at least as accurate as MDCT in defining surgically relevant middle ear structures. The inner ear was incompletely visualized with CBCT in their study.

Perhaps the most well-studied use of temporal bone CBCT is for the evaluation of middle and inner ear implants. Early preclinical studies in temporal bone specimens fitted with cochlear implants demonstrated that an adapted CT angiography CBCT system could noninvasively depict the electrode-modiolus relationship postimplantation.^77,78 These results were later corroborated in another cadaver study comparing single- and multisection CT with CBCT.⁷⁹ When compared with single- or multisection CT, a reduction in metal artifacts was observed with CBCT, which allowed more precise determination of electrode-array positioning within the scala tympani or scala vestibuli.⁷⁹ Reduced metal artifacts with implant imaging using CBCT compared with conventional CT were also demonstrated by Offergeld et al⁸⁰ in a study evaluating middle ear implants in postsurgical temporal bone specimens.

Preclinical studies have been followed by studies of patients with inner and middle ear implants, suggesting that the combination of high spatial resolution and reduced metal artifacts with CBCT imaging may facilitate the postsurgical evaluation of reconstructed middle and inner ears.^75,81 A recent study has also explored the utility of CBCT in evaluating progressive hearing loss. Dalchow et al⁸² submitted 25 patients with audiometry-confirmed conductive hearing loss to preoperative CBCT and concluded that CBCT could be accurate both in predicting the continuity of the ossicular chain and in detecting ossicular erosions.

Multiple commercial CBCT systems have temporal bone−acquisition protocols. The miniCAT acquires temporal bone images at 125 kilovolt (peak) (kVp) and 58.8 mA with a 20-second scanning time using a sharp kernel (manufacturer's data). This protocol delivers 4.62 and 4.18 mGy at the center and periphery, respectively, of a 100-mm ion chamber, achieving spatial resolution in the range of 14–16 lp/cm (manufacturer's data). In their study of limited-FOV temporal bone imaging described above, Peltonen et al¹⁴ noted a 60-fold effective dose reduction with CBCT compared with MDCT, though they attributed much of this dramatic reduction to significantly smaller FOVs and shorter scanning times for their CBCT images. They noted that low-dose MDCT settings can acquire images with effective doses like those in CBCT if the FOVs and scanning times are, in fact, comparable with those of CBCT.¹⁴

These data suggest that CBCT might be useful for select imaging tasks in temporal bone imaging, including evaluation of inner and middle ear implant positioning, as well as definition of high-contrast postsurgical change and structural anatomy within the lateral skull base. Possible applications in evaluation of bony pathology, such as ossicular chain erosions, may also be emerging. Currently, further research is required to characterize the ability of CBCT to define temporal bone structures and bony pathology reliably, especially given the technologic and scan-parameter variability of commercial CBCT scanners. Lack of soft-tissue contrast resolution also continues to limit the use of CBCT in general diagnostic imaging of the temporal bone.

Skull Base

The particularly complex bony and neurovascular anatomy of the skull base makes it an attractive target for high-spatial-resolution imaging. Current practices in oncologic imaging of the skull base rely on MDCT and MR imaging for combined osseous and soft-tissue definitions.⁸³ Several preclinical reports have begun to explore the potential uses of CBCT during surgeries at the skull base,^7,84,85 suggesting high 3D localization accuracy and low target-registration error with effective doses in the range of 0.1–0.35 mSv. The xCAT intraoperative CBCT scanner (Xoran Technologies), a cousin of the MiniCat, has been evaluated in clinical scenarios at the skull base as well, with favorable preliminary results.^71,86

Controversies

As with any emerging imaging technology, use of CBCT scanners has been the subject of criticism as well as acclaim. The technology itself is limited by lack of user experience and what is currently a relatively small body of related literature. The point-of-service operational model that dominates diagnostic head and neck CBCT imaging practices has also drawn criticism. Additionally, the ACR Practice Guideline for CT of the head and neck recommends that all imaging studies be evaluated with bone and soft-tissue algorithms.⁸⁷ Because of the low radiation dose, CBCT can only provide bony detail and is unable to provide images of the soft tissues.

At our institution, CBCT scanning of the extracranial head and neck is performed in both a clinical and research capacity primarily for sinus, maxillofacial, and occasional temporal bone imaging. Research on this technology is still preliminary, without prospective studies that convincingly demonstrate its benefit compared with conventional CT.

Both in medical and oral and maxillofacial imaging in dentistry, CBCT has been largely adopted as an office-based service. This is a usage model purported to expedite patient diagnosis and treatment while simultaneously reducing costs, providing 1-stop management with fewer billed visits and no radiologist consultation fees. Point-of-service imaging and other self-referral services, however, have been widely criticized for encouraging overuse and directly inflating medical costs.

The belief that financial incentives undermine the clinical decision-making process has been the basis for federal legislation limiting Medicare payments for self-referral services (so-called “Stark laws”). Regulatory checks on the operation of imaging technologies are present in many states in the form of Certificates of Need (CONs), which require documentation of sufficient community demand before a technology can be certified to be operated at a particular facility. This theoretically prevents excess capacity of medical equipment and prevents cost inflation. In states with CON laws, CBCT scanners are often treated like conventional CT scanners and are subject to the same scanning-volume requirements regulating the acquisition and operation of conventional CT scanners. The CT allowance in a given community is typically filled by conventional scanners, making it difficult to operate a CBCT machine in states with CON laws.

The advent of CBCT technologies has also fueled the controversy surrounding office-based imaging, which is usually performed and interpreted by nonradiologists often without the accreditation, training, or licensure afforded by the radiology community. A recent position paper by the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology addressed this issue, emphasizing the role of the practitioner in obtaining and interpreting CBCT images. It highlights the practitioner's responsibility for understanding CBCT operating parameters, reviewing the entire exposed tissue volume, and addressing all radiologic findings irrespective of their association with the scanning indication.⁸⁸

Conclusions

CBCT is an emerging CT technology, which has potential applications for imaging of high-contrast structures in the head and neck as well as dentomaxillofacial regions. Preliminary research suggests that high-spatial-resolution images can be obtained with comparatively low patient dose. To date, the most researched applications for head and neck CBCT are in sinus, middle and inner ear implant, and dentomaxillofacial imaging. This technology is not without controversy, and further research is required to establish informed recommendations about its appropriate use in a clinical setting.