A phantom for simplified image quality control of dental cone beam computed tomography units

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work was to develop an inexpensive phantom for simplified image quality assurance (IQA) together with algorithms for objective evaluation of image quality parameters and to integrate these components into an easy-to-use software package. This should help make quality control of dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) units accessible, easy, and affordable for any specialist or general practitioner. STUDY DESIGN: Our study developed an inexpensive polymethyl methacrylate (Plexiglas) phantom containing objects and structures for objective quantification of the most important image-quality parameters in CBCT imaging. It also paired the phantom with a software package, based on open-source software, for automatic processing and analysis. RESULTS: The software produces objectively measured IQA data for low- and high-contrast resolution, uniformity, noise characteristics, and geometric linearity. CONCLUSIONS: The authors consider the phantom and methods presented in this article to be a step toward helping clinical dental personnel perform regular quality assurance on CBCT units