The Role of Conventional Radiographs and 3D CT in the Evaluation of Maxillofacial Trauma: A Systematic Review
Background: Maxillofacial injuries are a frequent occurrence in emergency clinical settings, posing diagnostic challenges that require both rapid and accurate assessment to facilitate appropriate treatment planning. Traditionally, conventional radiographs have served as the first-line imaging modal...
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ziauddin University
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Pakistan Journal of Medicine and Dentistry |
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| Online Access: | https://ojs.zu.edu.pk/pjmd/article/view/3661 |
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| author | Samra Bokhari Nauman Shirazi Samir Azeem Qadri Tauseef Ahmed Muhammad Khalil Khan |
| author_facet | Samra Bokhari Nauman Shirazi Samir Azeem Qadri Tauseef Ahmed Muhammad Khalil Khan |
| author_sort | Samra Bokhari |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Background: Maxillofacial injuries are a frequent occurrence in emergency clinical settings, posing diagnostic challenges that require both rapid and accurate assessment to facilitate appropriate treatment planning. Traditionally, conventional radiographs have served as the first-line imaging modality for evaluating facial trauma. However, the introduction of three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) has provided an alternative diagnostic tool, offering enhanced visualization of complex anatomical structures and potentially greater diagnostic accuracy. This systematic review aimed to critically evaluate and compare the diagnostic effectiveness and clinical utility of conventional radiographs versus 3D CT in assessing maxillofacial trauma.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted up to June 2025. Eligible studies included retrospective and prospective case-control designs that directly compared the diagnostic accuracy of conventional radiographs and 3D CT in evaluating maxillofacial trauma. Only peer-reviewed articles reporting quantitative diagnostic outcomes were included. Case reports and studies lacking direct comparison or identifiable diagnostic criteria were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. A narrative synthesis was performed due to variability in study designs and outcome measures.
Results: A total of twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. Across the included studies, 3D CT consistently demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy compared to conventional radiographs in the evaluation of maxillofacial trauma. This advantage was especially pronounced in complex midfacial injuries and cases involving multiple fracture patterns. 3D CT also showed enhanced sensitivity in detecting subtle or occult fractures, offered improved visualization of anatomical relationships, and contributed significantly to more effective surgical planning.
Discussion: While conventional radiographs remain valuable for initial screening, 3D CT emerges as the superior imaging modality for the comprehensive evaluation of maxillofacial trauma. Its ability to accurately visualize both bony and soft tissue injuries makes it essential for precise diagnosis, effective treatment planning, and improved clinical outcomes.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9fd789bb50a84647a82cf10bcf168313 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2313-7371 2308-2593 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | ziauddin University |
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| series | Pakistan Journal of Medicine and Dentistry |
| spelling | doaj-art-9fd789bb50a84647a82cf10bcf1683132025-08-20T03:13:35Zengziauddin UniversityPakistan Journal of Medicine and Dentistry2313-73712308-25932025-07-0114310.36283/ziun-pjmd14-3/080The Role of Conventional Radiographs and 3D CT in the Evaluation of Maxillofacial Trauma: A Systematic ReviewSamra Bokhari0Nauman Shirazi1Samir Azeem Qadri2Tauseef Ahmed3Muhammad Khalil Khan4Jinnah Sindh Medical University, KarachiKarachi Medical and Dental College, Karachi Metropolitan UniversityLiaquat college of medicine and dentistryLiaquat college of medicine and dentistryJinnah Sindh Medical University Background: Maxillofacial injuries are a frequent occurrence in emergency clinical settings, posing diagnostic challenges that require both rapid and accurate assessment to facilitate appropriate treatment planning. Traditionally, conventional radiographs have served as the first-line imaging modality for evaluating facial trauma. However, the introduction of three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) has provided an alternative diagnostic tool, offering enhanced visualization of complex anatomical structures and potentially greater diagnostic accuracy. This systematic review aimed to critically evaluate and compare the diagnostic effectiveness and clinical utility of conventional radiographs versus 3D CT in assessing maxillofacial trauma. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted up to June 2025. Eligible studies included retrospective and prospective case-control designs that directly compared the diagnostic accuracy of conventional radiographs and 3D CT in evaluating maxillofacial trauma. Only peer-reviewed articles reporting quantitative diagnostic outcomes were included. Case reports and studies lacking direct comparison or identifiable diagnostic criteria were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. A narrative synthesis was performed due to variability in study designs and outcome measures. Results: A total of twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. Across the included studies, 3D CT consistently demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy compared to conventional radiographs in the evaluation of maxillofacial trauma. This advantage was especially pronounced in complex midfacial injuries and cases involving multiple fracture patterns. 3D CT also showed enhanced sensitivity in detecting subtle or occult fractures, offered improved visualization of anatomical relationships, and contributed significantly to more effective surgical planning. Discussion: While conventional radiographs remain valuable for initial screening, 3D CT emerges as the superior imaging modality for the comprehensive evaluation of maxillofacial trauma. Its ability to accurately visualize both bony and soft tissue injuries makes it essential for precise diagnosis, effective treatment planning, and improved clinical outcomes. https://ojs.zu.edu.pk/pjmd/article/view/3661Maxillofacial traumaradiographytomographyx-ray computedthree-dimensional imagingDiagnostic Imaging |
| spellingShingle | Samra Bokhari Nauman Shirazi Samir Azeem Qadri Tauseef Ahmed Muhammad Khalil Khan The Role of Conventional Radiographs and 3D CT in the Evaluation of Maxillofacial Trauma: A Systematic Review Pakistan Journal of Medicine and Dentistry Maxillofacial trauma radiography tomography x-ray computed three-dimensional imaging Diagnostic Imaging |
| title | The Role of Conventional Radiographs and 3D CT in the Evaluation of Maxillofacial Trauma: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | The Role of Conventional Radiographs and 3D CT in the Evaluation of Maxillofacial Trauma: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Conventional Radiographs and 3D CT in the Evaluation of Maxillofacial Trauma: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Conventional Radiographs and 3D CT in the Evaluation of Maxillofacial Trauma: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | The Role of Conventional Radiographs and 3D CT in the Evaluation of Maxillofacial Trauma: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | role of conventional radiographs and 3d ct in the evaluation of maxillofacial trauma a systematic review |
| topic | Maxillofacial trauma radiography tomography x-ray computed three-dimensional imaging Diagnostic Imaging |
| url | https://ojs.zu.edu.pk/pjmd/article/view/3661 |
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