Assessment of cone-beam CT technical image quality indicators and radiation dose for optimal STL model used in visual surgical planning.

The normal dose CBCT protocol "F2" offered optimal bone area and volume balance for STL. The optimal CBCT protocol can be defined using contrast-to-noise ratio and modulation transfer function values that were similar to those of the reference CT scanners'. CBCT scanners with selected protocols can offer a viable alternative to CT scanners for acquiring STL models for virtual surgical planning at a lower effective dose.