Clinical Applications of the Algorithm “Pipeline Advanced Contrast Enhancement (Pace)” in Dental Radiology

The Panoramic radiography is the result of a radiological technique that allows the repro-duction of the dental arches and the support structures of a unique image. The clinical utility of panoramic radiography allows the overall assessment as well as the detection of structural abnormal-ities and/or possibly relates to pathological lesions. The disadvantage of this technique is related to the lower quality of the images compared to endoral radiographs and TC scans but especially to the attempt to represent a three-dimensional, curved anatomic region on a two-dimensional plane. This inevitably leads to geometric distortions of shape, enlargements and overlaps that adversely affect the detection of any pathological entities. However, the most important advantage is the possibility of reducing patient exposure to ionizing rays. The aim of digital radiology is to improve the characteristics of radiological machinery (through increasingly innovative and sophisticated data processing software and hardware) in order to obtain high-quality images while reducing dosimetry and to reduce “disturbing elements” in radiological images. To overcome the limitations of the panoramic technique and to improve the quality of radiological images, and thus the effectiveness of diagnosis, image optimization software can be used. In this regard, a tool called Pipeline for Advanced Contrast Enhancement (PACE) is being developed: This is an algorithm that allows image quality to be improved by optimizing contrast and reducing brightness inhomogeneity, resulting in increased definition, making details more evident. The purpose of the proposed investigation is to evaluate if the application of the PACE algorithm in dental radiology could be an advantage because of the possibility of enhancing the quality of radiological images to make details of anatomical structures and related pathological lesions more obvious.