Evaluating Radiomorphometric Indices and Fractal Dimension of the Pediatric Oncology Patients on Panoramic Images

Cancer is the abnormal and uncontrolled proliferation of certain tissues in the body for a reason that cannot be determined yet. Childhood cancers occur between 0-17 years of age, and follow-up and treatment of these patients are performed in pediatric oncology services. Diagnosis in childhood cancers can be made by clinical examination as well as blood tests and examination of tissue samples. There are also some imaging methods used for diagnosis; ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET / CT).

Treatment methods in childhood cancers are as follows; surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and stem cell transplantation. Once diagnosed, oncologists and surgeons may choose one of these treatment options by mutual consultation or decide on a treatment method. Fractal analysis is a numerical as fractal dimension. Trabeculae are thin columns with numerous large spaces that give a honeycomb or spongy appearance of cancellous bone, which is also called trabecular bone or spongy bone. Previously, fractal analysis has been reported as a useful method to detect various diseases that affect the trabecular bone structure. Particularly in the field of dentistry, studies have shown that fractal analysis by the box-counting method can successfully evaluate trabecular changes in the mandible of patients with osteoporosis and periodontal diseases and in lactating women.