Comparability of radiographic and 3D-ultrasound measurements of facial midline tissue depths

As a second step in our three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound research on facial tissues, orthodontic patients with available lateral cephalographs (radiographs) allowing measurements of tissues along the midline of the face were recruited for ultrasound scanning. Comparison of three points on the upper lip (A-point), chin (B-point), and nose (nasion) produced differences of varying magnitude between radiographic and ultrasound measurements, with the B-point measurement being clearly affected by head orientation. Concordance was better for A-point and best for nasion. Although extension of two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound scanning of facial tissues to 3D scanning for forensic and surgical reconstructive purposes remains a worthy goal, it must be recognized that because of the differences in technique, measurements obtained from the different visualization modalities at present vary in their comparability.