Radiologic interpretation of bone striae - An experimental study in vitro

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the mandibular alveolar striae patterns seen in radiographs represent trabecular bone. Study design. Segments of human cadaver mandible were obtained. Two identical radiographs were made of each segment initially, after removal of trabecular bone, after slight smoothing of the endosteal surface, and after aggressive smoothing of the endosteal surface. The radiographs were projected in random pairs for each sample. Six dentists judged whether a difference in the amount of trabecular bone could be detected. Results. Chi-square test analysis revealed no significant difference in the amount of trabecular bone judged initially and after removal of trabecular bone. A significant difference appeared to exist on radiographs made initially and after slight smoothing. A significant difference was judged to exist on radiographs made after slight removal of the endosteal surface and after aggressive removal of the endosteal surface. Conclusions. Mandibular radiographic striae patterns, interpreted as arising from trabecular bone, actually result from bone patterns on the endosteal surface.