Images are acquired in the axial plane and stored in a DICOM format. DICOM stands for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine and represents the standard for handling, storing, printing, and transmitting information in medical and dental imaging. Reconstruction can then be done in a coronal or a sagittal plane.
CBCT utilises a cone-shaped beam aimed at a flat panel detector. The rotation of the beam and detector around the patient’s head in opposite directions occurs simultaneously. The raw data is captured from the area of interest, creating a cylindrical shaped volume. The size of the acquired volume reflects the size of the region of interest. The use of one large volume for all sizes of regions of interest (one size fits all) is now discouraged. Clinicians are recommended to use the smallest volume in keeping with the size of the region of interest. This limits the radiation exposure to the patient.
