ORIGINAL ARTICLE Use of cone beam computed tomography to determine the accuracy of panoramic radiological markers: A pilot study Sebnem Kursun a *, Kurt M. Hakan a , Oztas Bengi a , Akbulut Nihat b a Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey b Department of Dentomaxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Gaziosmanpas ‚ a University, Ankara, Turkey Received 7 January 2013; Final revision received 22 March 2013 Available online --- KEYWORDS cone beam computed tomography; diagnostic accuracy; inferior alveolar canal; orthopantomography; third molar Abstract Background/purpose: Various imaging modalities have been used by clinicians in the preoperative assessment of the third molar position. The purpose of this study is to inves- tigate the diagnostic accuracy of orthopantomography (OPG) markers in determining the anatomical relation between the mandibular third molar and the mandibular canal by compar- ison using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and methods: Ninety patients’ panoramic and CBCT images were chosen for the study. From these, 180 teeth were studied by four trained examiners. The frequency of angu- lation, Monaco classification, spatial relation, and cortical perforation were detected. The values were then compared using a Chi-square test for both of the imaging modalities. Results: On OPG, 17.9% superimposition, 22.4% narrowing, 18.4% increased radiolucency, 28.3% interruption, and 13% diversion/deviation were recorded. On CBCT images, 57.8% of the molars were in a direct relation with the inferior alveolar canal and 42.2% had no relation. The statistically significant predictive values of positive test results are narrowing of the canal (72%), and interruption of the radiopaque border with the ratio (77.7%). Of the third molars in a direct relation with the canal, narrowing was recorded in 72% and interruption was recorded in 77.8% of cases with statistical significance. Conclusion: The presence of narrowing of the canal and interruption of the radiopaque border as radiographic markers on OPG predict contact between the lower third molar and inferior alveolar canal. Detailed radiological examination on CBCT is recommended in such cases. Copyright ª 2013, Association for Dental Sciences of the Republic of China. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author. Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. E-mail address: sebnemkursun@yahoo.com.tr (S. Kursun). + MODEL Please cite this article in press as: Kursun S, et al., Use of cone beam computed tomography to determine the accuracy of panoramic radiological markers: A pilot study, Journal of Dental Sciences (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jds.2013.04.003 1991-7902/$36 Copyright ª 2013, Association for Dental Sciences of the Republic of China. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jds.2013.04.003 Available online at www.sciencedirect.com journal homepage: www.e-jds.com Journal of Dental Sciences (2013) xx,1e5