[Unsharpness of redundant shadows of the mandibular ramus region in panoramic tomography. The influence by the first slit width].

In panoramic tomography, redundant shadows of the mandibular ramus overlapping with tomographic images on the opposite side prevent radiological diagnosis. Redundant shadows differ from tomographic images in sharpness, film contrast, and imaging quality. In addition to mismatching of film velocities and X-ray beams, familiar causes of such unsharpness, still another source must be taken into consideration: the influence of varying slit widths. In the past, research has been concentrated on real images defined by McDavid et al.; that is, tomographic images and tomographic blurring images. The present study, however, qualitatively evaluates the unsharpness of redundant shadows of the mandibular ramus, especially with reference to the effects of first-slit width. At the same time, comparisons are made with tomographic images overlapping with redundant shadows of the mandibular ramus region. An orthopantomograph OP5 was employed as the panoramic X-ray apparatus. In the first step of the evaluation, X-ray beam alignments were examined in the horizontal dimension. To evaluate unsharpness of the mandibular ramus, we used regression analysis by the least-squares method and the Nitka method. Horizontal beam alignments and image layers as calculated by McDavid et al. (1985) were applied in setting the aluminum plate. Conclusions 1. In the case of redundant shadows of the mandibular ramus, unsharpness of the posterior margin and the condylar process depends on first-slit width, which is a major influence on imaging quality. 2. Intensity of edge and film contrast exert about equal influences on unsharpness of redundant shadows of the mandibular ramus. Both factors were influenced by the set-up position of the subject. 3. Film contrast exerted a greater influence than edge intensity on unsharpness of overlapped tomographic images. 4. The wider the first-slit width, the greater the indistinct area of redundant shadows of the mandibular ramus and overlapped images. But, for the purposes of diagnosis, maximum slit width is probably between 3 and 5 mm.