Evaluation of error types seen in digital panoramic radiographs

Aims: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of different types of errors in panoramic radiography and explore potential correlations between these errors, age, and gender. Methods: A total of 2000 panoramic radiographs randomly selected from the patient archives of the Department of Oral, Dental, and Maxillofacial Radiology at Dicle University Faculty of Dentistry, taken in 2023 for various indications, were analyzed. Two experienced radiologists (BK and EK) reviewed the digital panoramic X-ray images. Interobserver agreement was assessed by having both observers re-evaluate 10% of the sample. Patients with developmental anomalies, history of trauma, orthognathic surgery, maxillofacial pathology (e.g., tumors/cysts), and those under 16 years old were excluded. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 20.0 software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), with a significance level set at α=5%. Cohen’s kappa statistics were utilized to calculate intraobserver agreement. Results: In the analysis of 2000 panoramic radiographs, it was found that 81.16% exhibited at least one error. The predominant error identified was the misplacement of the tongue against the palate, accounting for 34.75% of cases. A statistically significant association was observed between increasing patient age and higher error rates (p0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of positioning errors in panoramic radiography is considerable. It underscores the importance of providing adequate training to healthcare professionals and technicians to mitigate the risk of misinterpretation and unnecessary exposure to radiation.