Measurement of orbital volume by a 3-dimensional software program: an experimental study.

PURPOSE This study reports a simple method with high accuracy for determining orbital volume from computed tomography (CT) scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS The volume of 20 orbits was evaluated in 20 dry skulls by use of a 3-dimensional software program in General Electric High-Speed Advantage CT/I (Milwaukee, WI), and compared with the volume obtained by direct measurement using the water displacement method. Accuracy of volume measurement by this software program was assessed statistically by paired samples t-test. RESULTS The mean volume was found to be 28.37 mL +/- 2.15 by direct impression and 28.41 mL +/- 2.09 by the software program. Volume difference between the 2 methods averaged 0.93 +/- 1.08 mL for each orbit (P < .01). The correlation between the techniques was found to be high (r = 0.887, P < .01). There was no significant volume discrepancy between the 2 methods. CONCLUSION Measurement by the technique described is an easy and accurate method of assessing the volume of the orbit.

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