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In vivo assessment of trabecular bone structure at the distal radius from high‐resolution magnetic resonance images
Author(s) -
Gordon Christopher L.,
Webber Colin E.,
Christoforou Nicholas,
Nahmias Claude
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.597987
Subject(s) - magnetic resonance imaging , trabecular bone , radius , materials science , skeletonization , in vivo , nuclear magnetic resonance , orientation (vector space) , image resolution , resolution (logic) , anatomy , biomedical engineering , nuclear medicine , medicine , geometry , osteoporosis , radiology , optics , physics , pathology , biology , mathematics , computer security , microbiology and biotechnology , artificial intelligence , computer science
In this study a method of assessing trabecular bone structure at the distal end of the radius from high‐resolution magnetic resonance images is described. Trabecular bone is segmented from the marrow and soft tissue background using an adaptive threshold, a region growth, and a skeletonization step. From the processed image we measured the connectivity and orientation of the trabecular bone network. Connectivity was assessed by a proposed connectivity index (CI) and marrow space was quantitated by a mean hole area( H A) . Significant age‐related changes in CI and H Awere observed in a mixed group of normal volunteers. CI decreased at a rate of 0 . 18 yr − 1( r = 0.72 ,n = 14 , p < 0.05 ) and H Aincreased at a rate of 0 . 018 mm 2 yr− 1( r = 0.69 , n = 14 , p < 0.05 ) . Gradient analysis was used to examine trabecular orientation, and revealed that the individual trabeculae at the distal end of the radius are organized anisotropically along the bone. These findings suggest that clinical magnetic resonance scanners can be used to assess trabecular bone structure in vivo .