Designing Iranian Cephalogram Analysis Software in Assessment of McNamara Analysis

Due to the different advantages of McNamara analysis, its cephalometric norms have been studied in different populations and Dolphin cephalometric software has induced it as an analysis. However, each ethnic group requires its own specific database due to the significant ethnic differences. The present study aimed at development of Iranian cephalometric analysis software as well as comparison of the results to the Dolphin.   

Methods:

In this diagnostic- descriptive study, 150 lateral cephalograms of normal occlusion individuals and 40 cephalograms of malocclusion patients were selected in Mashhad and Qazvin cities. McNamara analysis standards were measured after tracing the selected cephalometries with Dolphin software and the new software. The cephalometric software was designed using Microsoft Visual C++ program under Windows XP. Validity of Dolphin was approved by comparing its norms with hand traced cephalograms. The new software`s measurements were compared with Dolphin software on both series of cephalograms. The validity and reliability was tested using Intraclass correlation coefficient .Sex and age differences between norms were evaluated using Wilcoxon Signed Ranks.

Results:

Very high correlations were calculated between the results of Dolphin software and manually analyzed cephalograms and very high correlations between the results of Iranian cephalometric analysis software and Dolphin showing the validity and usefulness of the developed software.(ICC 0.570-1.0) Significant statistical differences were observed regarding McNamara cephalometric measurements during 9 and 11 years of age in Qazvin subjects with the exception of SNA, facial angle and Pog to Na, in which, no significant changes were indicated. Similar growth were found in the measurements between both genders with the exception of Pog to Na. Furthermore.

Conclusions:

According to the high correlations between the Iranian and Dolphin softwares measurements, the designed software has acceptable validity and reliability to be used for diagnosis, treatment planning and assessment of treatment outcomes in Iranian subjects.