Purpose: Comparing texture analysis, density measurement and visual quantification of trabecular network on spine CT images, to better evaluate bone architecture in osteoporosis.
Method and materials: Seventeen patients, aged 19 to 84 years, were included. One patient presented osteoporotic fractures. High resolution computed tomographic (HR-CT) images of the third lumbar vertebra were acquired using a Somatom 4 plus CT (Siemens) in a strict axial orientation with FOV of 12 cm and slice thickness of 1 mm. The size of the Region Of Interest was 1,6 cm(2). Three analyses were performed on this ROI: Density (in Hounsfield Unity), texture analysis (run length) and features inspired from bone histomorphometry (Bone Volume/Tissue Volume).
Results: Density measurement, run length methods and BV/TV provided consistent results with regards to age. Indeed density, run length and BV/TV results were lower for older patients with more advanced bone trabeculra alterations.
Conclusion: Only BV/TV and run length parameters seemed to show additional information on trabecular network architecture. The contribution of these two measurements to diagnose and classify osteoporosis will be the goal of a clinical study.