The objective of this work is to develop an on-line planning and delivery technique for palliative radiotherapy of spinal metastases using a linear accelerator capable of cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging. This technique integrates all preparation and delivery steps into a single session equivalent to an initial treatment session. The key technical challenges pertaining to the development and implementation of this novel treatment technique are related to CBCT image performance, efficient system integration, development of on-line planning tools and design of novel quality assurance (QA) phantoms and processes. Hardware and software image corrections were first implemented to make CBCT images suitable for target definition and planning. These corrections reduced CBCT non-uniformity and improved CBCT-number accuracy. The on-line treatment technique workflow and the integration of all the subsystems involved in the process were assessed on a customized spine phantom constructed for the study. The challenges related to the routine QA of the highly integrated on-line treatment technique were addressed with the construction and validation of an integral test phantom. This phantom, which contains point detectors (diodes) allows for real-time QA of the entire image guidance, planning and treatment process in terms of dose delivery accuracy. The integral test phantom was also effective for the QA of high-dose, high-precision spinal radiosurgery. Simulation of the on-line treatment technique on patient data showed that the planning step was the one of the most time consuming tasks due predominantly to manual target definition. A semi-automatic method for detection and identification of vertebrae on CBCT images was developed and validated to streamline vertebra segmentation and improve the on-line treatment efficiency. With a single patient setup at the treatment unit, patient motion during the on-line process represents the main source of geometric uncertainty for dose delivery. Spine intra-fraction motion was assessed on CBCT for a group of 49 patients treated with a palliative intent. The use of surface marker tracking as a surrogate for spine motion was also evaluated. Finally, the complete on-line planning and delivery technique was implemented in a research ethics board (REB) approved clinical study at the Princess Margaret Hospital and 7 patients have been successfully treated at the time of this report with this novel treatment approach.

As fissuras de rebordo alveolar e palato duro estão entre as malformações mais frequentes do corpo humano, podendo causar extensas deformidades ósseas faciais, com implicações biopsíquico-sociais marcantes. A avaliação da extensão desses defeitos ósseos, através de exames por imagem, tem sido feita com o objetivo de diagnosticar e planejar a terapêutica reabilitadora dos pacientes. O presente estudo tem por objetivo desenvolver uma metodologia de pós-processamento de imagens tomográficas para avaliação volumétrica de defeitos ósseos confeccionados em palato duro e rebordo alveolar de crânios macerados, mimetizando fissuras trans-forâmens unilaterais, e verificar a aplicabilidade clínica do Tomógrafo Computadorizado espiral Multislice e do tomógrafo computadorizado por feixe cônico na análise desses defeitos. Para tanto, nove crânios provenientes da Faculdade Cathedral, da cidade de Boa Vista- RR, foram escaneados em um Tomógrafo Computadorizado Multislice pertencente ao Hospital Geral de Roraima e em um tomógrafo computadorizado por feixe cônico de uma clínica privada, na cidade de Fortaleza-CE. As imagens foram, posteriormente, encaminhadas para análise ao Laboratório em Terceira Dimensão(LAB-3D) da Faculdade de Odontologia da USP, utilizando-se uma estação de trabalho independente e aplicando-se programas específicos de computação gráfica. Todas as imagens foram analisadas por dois examinadores, individualmente e em tempos distintos, por duas vezes, com o objetivo de processarmos análises intra e interexaminadores. Para a análise da metodologia de processamento de imagens, comparamos os resultados obtidos pelo Tomógrafo multislice utilizando crânios sem cera e com cera de modelagem número 07, na região do defeito ósseo, para auxiliar no seu delineamento, durante o pós-processamento das imagens tomográficas. Foram também avaliados os resultados volumétricos obtidos nos dois tipos de tomógrafos,com o objetivo de verificar a aplicabilidade dessas tecnologias na avaliação volumétrica dos defeitos ósseos fissurais e de comparar os resultados obtidos por cada uma delas. Todos os resultados foram comparados com os valores estabelecidos pelo padrão - ouro de nossa análise, que foram obtidos através do princípio de Arquimedes de deslocamento de água dos modelos de cera que foram utilizados. Os resultados estatísticos demonstraram que a metodologia de processamento das imagens tomográficas apresentou uma eficácia bastante elevada (p=0,995), sendo considerada eficiente na avaliação volumétrica de defeitos ósseos fissurais. Com relação aos tomógrafos utilizados, observamos que tanto o multislice como o por feixe cônico também apresentaram resultados satisfatórios, apresentando grande confiabilidade para o estudo do volume dos defeitos ósseos fissurais (p=0,997 e p=0,981, respectivamente), não havendo diferença nos resultados encontrados por eles. As análises intra e interobservadores nos dois tipos de tomógrafos não demonstraram diferença estatisticamente significativa. Os resultados evidenciaram que, independente do tipo de tomógrafo utilizado e do avaliador, as medidas obtidas são estatisticamente iguais às conseguidas pelo padrão-ouro de nossa análise. A aplicabilidade clínica de nossa pesquisa demonstrou ser direta e imediata, sendo importante no processo diagnóstico/terapêutico dos pacientes portadores de fissuras de rebordo alveolar e palato duro. / Oral clefts are one of the most frequent malformations of the human body, causing extensive facial bone deformities, compromising biological, psychic and social the individuals affected. Multislice CT and CBCT have been used to assess the volume of bone defect with the goal of diagnosis and rehabilitative therapy planning of the patients. The aim of this study were to develop a methodology for post-processing of tomographic images for volumetric assessment of bone defects made in the hard palate and alveolar ridge of dry skulls, mimicking unilateral trans-foramen clefts; and to determine the clinical applicability of multislice spiral computed tomography, and cone beam computed tomography in the analysis of these defects. Nine dry skulls from the Cathedral College in Boa Vista-RR were scanned on a multislice CT scanner at the Hospital Geral de Roraima and a cone beam computed tomography in a private clinic in Fortaleza-CE. The images were sent for analysis at Three Dimensional Laboratory (LAD-3D) of the Dentistry School, São Paulo University, using an independent workstation and implementing specific computer graphics programs. All images were analyzed by two examiners at different times and twice to proceed the intra and inter-examiners analysis. For analysis the methodology of image processing, we compared the results obtained by multislice CT using skulls with and without wax model in the region of bone defect. It was also analyzed the same images in both types of CT scanners in order to determine the applicability of these radiographic techniques in assessing volume of the clefts and to compare the results. All results were compared with the gold standard of our analysis, which was obtained by Archimedes principle of water displacement of wax models. The statistical results showed that the post processing methodology of tomographic images showed a high efficiency (p = 0.995) and was considered an efficient method for volumetric assessment of fissure bone defects. It was also observed that both multislice CT and cone beam CT showed excellent results with high reliability in the study of the volume of bone defects (p = 0.997 and p = 0.981, respectively), with no difference in performance between them. Analysis of intra-and inter-observer in the two types of CT scanners showed no statistically significant difference. The results demonstrate that independent of the type of CT scanner and the appraiser, the measurements are statistically equal to the gold standard obtained by our analysis. The clinical applicability of our research has shown to be immediate and direct, and it is important for the diagnostic and therapeutic process of patients with oral cleft.

A reabilitação dos pacientes com fissura de lábio e palato teve significativa evolução nas últimas décadas, sendo o desenvolvimento do enxerto ósseo alveolar muito importante para este avanço. É um procedimento que requer atenção rigorosa aos detalhes, por esta razão os exames de imagem são de grande auxílio. As Tomografias Computadorizadas enriqueceram os métodos de diagnóstico, despertando o interesse nos estudos desta modalidade de exame dentro da abordagem terapêutica da fissura labiopalatina. Este trabalho tem por objetivo desenvolver uma metodologia para avaliar o volume da fenda alvelar, por meio de Tomografia Computadorizada por Feixe Cônico. Utilizou-se o Software Open Source OsiriXTM DICOM Viewer Apple Inc, Versão 3.7.1 32 bits, um software de domínio público e que pode ser baixado gratuitamente na internet. Este software permite a visualização e manipulação de arquivos de tomografia computadorizada, desde de que os mesmos sejam salvos no formato DICOM, oferecendo possibilidade de mensuração tanto de medidas lineares, como de cálculo de área e de volume, sempre em proporções reais (1:1). A amostra foi constituída pelas imagens tomográficas de 30 pacientes, sendo 24 portadores de fissuras unilaterais e 6 de bilaterais, com idade média de 09 anos e 09 meses, sendo 19 do gênero masculino e 11 do feminino. Após a importação dos arquivos, foram utilizadas ferramentas do software OsiriXTM por 2 examinadores, em tempos distintos, para se proceder à mensuração do volume da fenda alveolar nos cortes axiais, a qual foi delimitada por meio da demarcação de pontos e limites pré-determinados. Foi realizada a análise pelo Teste da Estatística Alfa de Cronbach, que comprovou o elevado grau de reprodutibilidade e confiabilidade do método proposto (p<0,001). O volume médio encontrado foi de 0,92 ± 0,31 cm3, sendo que em relação aos tipos de fenda observou-se que as fissuras unilaterais apresentaram maior volume do que as bilaterais (p=0,019). Não houve diferenças quanto ao gênero, faixa etária e lado da fissura. Concluiu-se que o software OsiriXTM é eficiente em mensurar o volume da fenda alveolar; o método proposto pode ser reproduzido e o volume médio da fenda alveolar das fissuras unilaterais é maior que o das bilaterais. / Rehabilitation of patients with cleft lip and palate has evolved significantly in recent decades, due to development of the alveolar bone graft procedures. It is a procedure that requires strict attention to detail, and for this reason imaging exams are of great help. Computerized Tomography has enriched the diagnostic methods, arousing interest in studies of this method of examination in the therapeutic treatment of cleft lip and palate. This study aims to develop a methodology to assess the volume of the alveolar cleft, using Cone Beam Computerized Tomography. The 32-bit OsiriX® DICOM Viewer (Apple, Inc., version 3.7.1) open source softtware, a public domain program which can be downloaded for free from the Internet, was used. This software enables the visualization and manipulation of Computerized Tomography files as long as they are saved in the DICOM format, offering possibilities both for making linear measurements and also for calculating area and volume, always in real proportions (1:1). The sample was composed of tomographic images of 30 patients: 24 with unilateral and 6 with bilateral cleft , with average age of 9 years and 9 months, 19 male and 11 female. After importing the files, 2 examiners used tools from the OsiriXTM software, at different times, to measure the volume of the alveolar cleft lip and palate along the axial cuts, which was delimited using demarcation points and predetermined limits. Statistical analysis was performed using Cronbachs Alpha test, which demonstrated the high degree of reproducibility and reliability of the proposed method (p<0,001). The mean volume found was 0.92 ± 0.31 cm3 and, in relation to the type of cleft observed, the unilateral clefts presented larger volume than the bilaterals (p=0,019). There were no differences regarding gender, age range, and side of the cleft. It was concluded that the OsiriXTM software is efficient for measuring the volume of alveolar cleft; that the proposed method can be reproduced; and, that the mean volume of the alveolar unilateral cleft is greater than bilateral clefts.

Thesis problem: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) can provide images with identical information and considerable dose reduction compared with reasonably low costs compared to multislice computed tomography (MSCT) especially where multiple follow up imaging studies are needed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of CBCT, using i-CAT®'s software, for detection of the anatomical landmarks of the external, middle and inner ear to answer this question whether MSCT Can be replaced by dental CBCT for evaluation of the temporal bone. Material and methods: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 63 subjects made with the same machine, with unknown clinical histories and no evidence of pathosis on CBCT images, were evaluated by two oral and maxillofacial radiologists retrospectively. Seven anatomical points (scutum, oval window, incudomalleolar joint, the tympanic/horizontal and mastoid/vertical segments of the facial nerve, anterior and posterior crura of stapes) of the right and left temporal bone (total of 120 temporal bones) were evaluated. The results were provided as percentage of the points identified by each radiologist. The intra and inter observer agreement were calculated using kappa statistic. Results: The scutum, the tympanic/horizontal segment of the facial nerve canal and the oval window of the right and left temporal bone of 63 cases (total 126 temporal bones) were visualized by the first observer as well-defined structures in 100%, 96.03% and 100% of the cases, respectively. The tympanic/horizontal segment of the facial nerve canal was visualized as a poorly-defined structure in 2.38 % and could not be identified in 1.59% of the cases. The anterior and posterior crura of stapes, the mastoid/vertical segments of the facial nerve canal and the incudomalleolar joint were visualized as well-defined structures in 24.60%, 53.17%, 99.21% and 57.94% of the cases, as poorly defined structures in 32.54%, 41.27%, 0.79% and 39.68% of the cases respectively. The anterior and posterior crura of stapes, the mastoid/vertical segments of the facial nerve canal and the incudomalleolar joint could not be identified in 42.86%, 5.56%, 0% and 2.38% of the cases respectively. The intra- and inter-observer agreement ranged from strong for tympanic/horizontal and mastoid/vertical segments of the facial nerve canal to poor for the anterior and posterior crura of stapes and also the incudomalleolar joint. Conclusion: The i-CAT CBCT machine is a promising replacement for MSCT in evaluation of the temporal bone where there is no need for evaluation of the anterior and posterior crura of stapes and the incudomalleolar joint which are the smallest anatomical structures in the temporal bone. Other CBCT machines with higher contrast to noise ratio should be evaluated for detection of those anatomical structures since CBCT can reduce the patient dose substantially where multiple follow up CT studied are needed. Key words: Computed tomography; cone beam CT; multislice helical CT; middle ear; inner ear; temporal bone.

A cicatrização de um alvéolo após a extração dental é uma resposta reparadora. Após a exodontia, a cicatrização espontânea irá levar à perda do volume e do formato do rebordo original. A preservação alveolar envolve qualquer procedimento que limite os efeitos da reabsorção pós-extração. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o uso de um substituto ósseo xenogênico na preservação alveolar pós-extração dental comparado com a cicatrização espontânea em dentes anteriores da maxila com defeitos ósseos da parede vestibular maiores do que 50%. Foram tratados 13 pacientes com necessidade de exodontia de dente anterior da maxila com perda >50% da parede vestibular. Todas as exodontias foram realizadas sem retalho. Os pacientes foram alocados aleatoriamente em grupo teste: preservação alveolar com substituto ósseo (7 participantes) e grupo controle: cicatrização espontânea (6 participantes). O desfecho primário foi a alteração dimensional do rebordo alveolar calculada entre as imagens tomográficas de início (pós-exodontia) e depois de 4 meses da intervenção, na espessura 1mm abaixo da porção coronal da crista (HW-1). Os desfechos secundários foram as medidas vestibular e palatina, e os segmentos transversais HW-3 e HW-5. A medida HW-1 reduziu 51,21 % no grupo teste e 82,80% no grupo controle, com uma diferença intergrupos estatisticamente significante de 31,59%. Para as medidas transversais, houve redução estatisticamente significante tanto para HW-3 quanto para HW-5 entre os dois grupos. Em alvéolos com perda da parede vestibular maior que 50%, a utilização do substituto ósseo promoveu uma menor perda horizontal na ordem de 30%. / The healing process of post-extraction sockets is bone resorption. After tooth extraction, spontaneous healing will lead to loss of volume and shape of the original ridge. Alveolar ridge preservation involves any procedure that limits the effects of post-extraction resorption. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of the xenogenic bone substitute in the post-extraction alveolar preservation compared to spontaneous healing in anterior maxilla teeth with vestibular wall defects greater than 50%. Thirteen patients with anterior maxillary tooth extraction with a > 50% buccal wall loss were treated. All the surgeries were made flapless. Patients were randomly assigned to a test group: alveolar preservation with bone substitute (7 participants); and control group: spontaneous healing (6 participants). The primary outcome was the dimensional alteration of the alveolar ridge calculated between the tomographic images at the beginning (post-extraction) and after 4 months of the intervention, at the thickness 1mm below the coronal portion of the crest (HW-1). Secondary outcomes were measures buccal and palatine, and HW-3 and HW-5 cross-sections. The HW-1 measure reduced 51.21% in the test group and 82.80% in the control group, with a statistically significant intergroup difference of 31.59%. For the other horizontal measurements, there was a statistically significant reduction for both HW-3 and HW-5 between the two groups. In sockets with buccal wall loss greater than 50%, the use of the bone substitute provided a 30% lower horizontal loss.

A cicatrização de um alvéolo após a extração dental é uma resposta reparadora. Após a exodontia, a cicatrização espontânea irá levar à perda do volume e do formato do rebordo original. A preservação alveolar envolve qualquer procedimento que limite os efeitos da reabsorção pós-extração. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o uso de um substituto ósseo xenogênico na preservação alveolar pós-extração dental comparado com a cicatrização espontânea em dentes anteriores da maxila com defeitos ósseos da parede vestibular maiores do que 50%. Foram tratados 13 pacientes com necessidade de exodontia de dente anterior da maxila com perda >50% da parede vestibular. Todas as exodontias foram realizadas sem retalho. Os pacientes foram alocados aleatoriamente em grupo teste: preservação alveolar com substituto ósseo (7 participantes) e grupo controle: cicatrização espontânea (6 participantes). O desfecho primário foi a alteração dimensional do rebordo alveolar calculada entre as imagens tomográficas de início (pós-exodontia) e depois de 4 meses da intervenção, na espessura 1mm abaixo da porção coronal da crista (HW-1). Os desfechos secundários foram as medidas vestibular e palatina, e os segmentos transversais HW-3 e HW-5. A medida HW-1 reduziu 51,21 % no grupo teste e 82,80% no grupo controle, com uma diferença intergrupos estatisticamente significante de 31,59%. Para as medidas transversais, houve redução estatisticamente significante tanto para HW-3 quanto para HW-5 entre os dois grupos. Em alvéolos com perda da parede vestibular maior que 50%, a utilização do substituto ósseo promoveu uma menor perda horizontal na ordem de 30%. / The healing process of post-extraction sockets is bone resorption. After tooth extraction, spontaneous healing will lead to loss of volume and shape of the original ridge. Alveolar ridge preservation involves any procedure that limits the effects of post-extraction resorption. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of the xenogenic bone substitute in the post-extraction alveolar preservation compared to spontaneous healing in anterior maxilla teeth with vestibular wall defects greater than 50%. Thirteen patients with anterior maxillary tooth extraction with a > 50% buccal wall loss were treated. All the surgeries were made flapless. Patients were randomly assigned to a test group: alveolar preservation with bone substitute (7 participants); and control group: spontaneous healing (6 participants). The primary outcome was the dimensional alteration of the alveolar ridge calculated between the tomographic images at the beginning (post-extraction) and after 4 months of the intervention, at the thickness 1mm below the coronal portion of the crest (HW-1). Secondary outcomes were measures buccal and palatine, and HW-3 and HW-5 cross-sections. The HW-1 measure reduced 51.21% in the test group and 82.80% in the control group, with a statistically significant intergroup difference of 31.59%. For the other horizontal measurements, there was a statistically significant reduction for both HW-3 and HW-5 between the two groups. In sockets with buccal wall loss greater than 50%, the use of the bone substitute provided a 30% lower horizontal loss.

Identification of accurate tumor location and shape is highly important in lung cancer radiotherapy, to improve the treatment quality by reducing dose delivery errors. Because a lung tumor moves with the patient's respiration, breathing motion should be correctly analyzed and predicted during the treatment for prevention of tumor miss or undesirable treatment toxicity. Besides, in Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), the tumor motion causes difficulties not only in delivering accurate dose, but also in assuring superior quality of imaging techniques such as four-dimensional (4D) Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and 4D Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Specifically, 4D CBCT used in CBCT IGRT requires precise respiratory signal extraction to avoid burry edges, inaccurate tumor shape, and motion-induced artifacts on the reconstructed CBCT image. 4D MRIs used in MRI-guided radiation therapy typically have low resolution as a tradeoff with field of view, image acquisition time, and image quality. To predict the tumor motion and guarantee the superior quality of the imaging techniques, the dissertation is divided into three parts. The first part describes a new prediction method for respiration-related tumor movements, called Intra- and Inter-fractional variation prediction using Fuzzy Deep Learning (IIFDL). IIFDL clusters the respiratory movements based on breathing similarities, and estimates patients' breathing motion using the proposed predictor, called fuzzy deep learning. The second part of the dissertation includes a novel marker-less binning method for 4D CBCT projections, called Image Registration-based Projection Binning (IRPB), which combines intensity-based feature point detection and trajectory tracking using random sample consensus. IRPB extracts breathing motion and phases by analyzing periodicity of tissue feature point trajectories. The third part the dissertation explains a novel Super-Resolution (SR) method for 4D MRI, called Recurrent Deep Learning-based SR (RDLS), comprised of feature extraction, recurrent nonlinear mapping, and reconstruction. RDLS estimates high-resolution MRIs from low-resolution MRIs according to a specified magnification power.

La tomodensitométrie à faisceau conique (CBCT) est répandue à travers les centres de cancérologie pour le positionnement du patient avant chaque traitement de radiothérapie. Ces images pourraient potentiellement être utilisées pour des tâches plus complexes. En radio-oncologie, les techniques de planification adaptative sont en développement et nécessitent l'utilisation des images de tomodensitométrie synthétiques (sCT). Alors, plusieurs groupes de recherche ont proposé différentes techniques pour générer des images sCT à partir des données CBCT. L'objectif principale de ce projet est d'évaluer une nouvelle méthode d'apprentissage profond pour générer des images sCT de pelvis à partir des images CBCT. Onze patients ont été rétrospectivement étudiés. Chaque patient a été imagé en séquence par deux techniques d'imagerie volumétrique dans la même position, soit un scan au CBCT et un autre au CT sur rails (CTr). Afin de pouvoir utiliser les images synthétiques dans un contexte clinique, la qualité de l'image et l'impact dosimétrique entre les sCT et les CTr doivent être évalués. Les nombres CT des images sCT sont comparés à ceux des images CTr. Finalement, pour évaluer l'impact dosimétrique, les plans de traitement optimaux sont recalculés sur les images sCT et CTr. Les différences de dose sont évaluées à l'aide d'une analyse gamma et des histogrammes dose-volume. L'évaluation quantitative montre qu'il y a des différences statistiquement significatives dans les os et les cavités d'air. Tandis que, les différences des tissus adipeux et mous ne sont pas statistiquement significatives. Les doses estimées dans les organes à risque et les PTV à partir des données des sCT sont surestimées comparativement à celles calculées à partir des données des CTr. Cependant, les erreurs de doses sont inférieures à 2% pour la plupart des cas étudiés. Ces erreurs de doses sont probablement causées par le manque de tissus dans la périphérie du patient et les erreurs des nombres CT. Bien que les différences de doses soient cliniquement acceptable, la méthode proposée devrait temporairement être limitée aux validations quotidiennes de plans de traitement pour des cas pelviens. / The cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is widely spread in cancer centers for positioning the patient before their radiotherapy treatment. These images could potentially be used for more complex tasks. In radio-oncology, adaptive planning technics are in development and require the use of synthetic CT (sCT) images. So, multiple research groups proposed different methods to generate sCT images from CBCT data. The main purpose of this project is to assess a new deep-learning method to generate sCT images from CBCT images. Eleven patients were retrospectively studied. Each patient was subsequently imaged by two volumetric imaging methods in the same position, one CBCT scan and the other from CT on rails (CTr). In order to clinically use the synthetic images, image quality and dosimetric impact between sCT and CTr must be evaluated. sCT images' CT values are compared to those in CTr images. Finally, to evaluate the dosimetric impact, optimal treatment plans are recalculated with sCT and CTr images. Dose differences are assessed by gamma analysis and dose-volume histograms. The quantitative evaluation shows that differences are statistically different in bones and air cavities. As for adipose and soft tissues, differences were not statistically different. The estimated doses in organs-at-risk and PTVs from sCT data are overestimated compared to those from CTr data. However, dose errors are inferior to 2% in the majority of studied cases. These dose errors are most likely due to missing tissues on the outskirt of the patient and the errors of CT numbers. Although dose differences are clinically acceptable, the proposed method should temporarily be limited to daily validations of pelvic treatment plans.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第24884号 / 医博第5018号 / 新制||医||1068(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 鈴木 実, 教授 小濱 和貴, 教授 中島 貴子 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Daktaro disertacijos „Kūginio pluošto kompiuterinės tomografijos diagnostinių galimybių endodontijoje tyrimai” tikslas - įvertinti kūginio pluošto kompiuterinės tomografijos (KPKT) galimybes tiriant viršūninio apydančio būklę ir danties šaknies kanalo gydymo rezultatus klinikinėmis sąlygomis bei ex vivo modelyje. Uždaviniai: 1) palyginti skaitmeninės intraoralinės rentgenografijos (SPR) ir KPKT metodų efektyvumą, diagnozuojant danties šaknies kanalo perforacijas žmogaus apatinio žandikaulio ex vivo modelyje bei nustatyti optimalų tūrinio vaizdo elemento dydį; 2) palyginti dantų šaknų perforacijų vietos ir dydžio įtaką KPKT diagnostinėms savybėms žmogaus apatinio žandikaulio ex vivo modelyje; 3) palyginti dantų šaknų perforacijų diagnozavimą skirtingose KPKT rekonstrukcinėse projekcijose žmogaus apatinio žandikaulio ex vivo modelyje; 4) palyginti SPR ir KPKT metodų tikslumą, vertinant endodontiškai gydytų pacientų dantų šaknų viršūninio apydančio (VA) būklę; 5) Sukurti pacientų VA būklės ir endodontinio gydymo kokybės įvertinimo sistemą (PESS), pagrįstą KPKT metodo tyrimo rezultatais; 6) Pagal kompleksinį viršūninio apydančio būklės įvertinimo indeksą, (COPI) ištirti pacientų VA būklę, naudojant KPKT ir skaitmeninę ortopantomografiją (SOR) bei palyginti abiem metodais gautus rezultatus; 7) Pagal endodontiškai gydytų dantų indeksą (ETTI), įvertinti pacientų endodontinio gydymo kokybę, naudojant KPKT ir SOR bei palyginti abiem metodais gautus rezultatus. / The aim of doctoral dissertation "Evaluation of diagnostic abilities of cone-beam computed tomography in endodontics” are to evaluate the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) diagnostic ability in assessment of periapical bone lesions and tooth root canal treatment outcome clinically and in ex vivo model. Objectives: 1) to compare the diagnostic abilities of CBCT and digital periapical radiogram (DPR) methods in the detection of root perforations ex vivo and to assess the use of different voxel sizes of a CBCT unit; 2) to assess the influence of root perforations sizes and locations on diagnostic performance of CBCT ex vivo; 3) to assess the influence of different reconstruction planes of CBCT in diagnosing root perforations ex vivo; 4) to compare the accuracy of DPR and CBCT in the detection of periapical radiolucencies in endodontically treated teeth; 5) to develop new patients Periapical and Endodontic Status Scale (PESS) by means of CBCT analysis; 6) to investigate periapical status of the patient using Complex Periapical Index (COPI) with two radiological methods (CBCT and digital orthopantomogram (DOR)) and to compare their results; 7) to investigate endodontic treatment quality using Endodontically Treated Tooth Index (ETTI) with two radiological methods (CBCT and DOR) and to compare their results.