Assessing the validity of ITK-SNAP software package in measuring the volume of upper airway spaces secondary to rapid maxillary expansion.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the validity of a free-access software package (ITK-SNAP) in segmenting and measuring the volume of upper airway spaces secondary to rapid maxillary expansion (RME).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen participants who required RME were recruited for this study. Preoperative (T1) and 6-month postoperative (T2) cone-beam computed tomographic scans of all participants were analyzed. OnDemand3D software packages was used for superimposition and orientation of the images, while ITK-SNAP software was used to measure the volume of airway spaces. At week one (W1), all volumetric measurements were carried out by one examiner and repeated after 1 week (W2). Paired t -test, the interclass correlation coefficient, and Dahlberg coefficients of reliability were used to assess the reproducibility.

RESULTS: Student's t -test showed no significant difference between the W1 and W2 set of measurements ( P > 0.05). Coefficients of reliability were above 95% and intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from 0.99 to 1.000, which altogether confirmed the satisfactory reproducibility of the measurements.

CONCLUSIONS: ITK-SNAP software package is a reliable and cost-effective method to segment and measure upper airway changes subsequent to RME.