Effect of display type and room illuminance in the detection of vertical root fractures on cone beam computed tomography scans

The great advantages of assessing the integrity of structures in the face and oral cavity in three-dimensional images have led to a considerable increase in the use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). One of those uses is to detect vertical root fractures (VRFs). Several factors have to be taken into account to provide optimal interpretation conditions. The display type and the ambient lighting conditions are two of them. Until now, there are no studies in the literature that evaluates the effect of those two factors on the detection of VRFs. This study aims to determine if there is any difference in the detection of VRFs on different displays and under different lighting conditions on CBCT scans. 100 anonymized and randomized scans were evaluated. Two calibrated and masked observers performed the evaluations independently under four different combinations of monitors and ambient lighting conditions: conventional off the shelf display and bright lighting, conventional off the shelf display and dim lighting, medical monitor and bright lighting, medical monitor and dim lighting. The confirmation of the presence of VRF after extraction was considered the gold standard. Overall, the results show that the display type and room illuminance have no significant effect on the detection of vertical root fractures on cone beam computed tomography.