Bone resorption in metabolic bone diseases alters the structure of trabecular microstructure in the spongy bone and reduces its mechanical strength. Most of the methods used to diagnose bone loss are based on measuring the radiation absorbed by the bone tissue minerals and cannot evaluate the micro-structure of bone trabeculae in the examined tissue. The present study describes a method, based on optical processing of conventional radiographs for quantitative evaluation of trabecular micro-structure. The analysis is based on applying optical Fourier diffractometry methods to femoral neck radiographs. The method enables quantitative characterization of the structure of the trabecular pattern which appears on the bone radiograph. The changes in trabecular structure result in bone tissue deterioration which reflects many metabolic bone diseases. This method makes it possible to represent the bone microstructure by a quantitative bone index which depends on the light intensity distribution at the Fourier plane. A special optical correlator was constructed and unique software was developed for data processing. The optical device consists of a light source, a film positioner, optical components and an electronic device for accurate light intensity measurements. The device can process the image on a conventional x-ray film and analyze in real time image structures in preferred directions and locations. The method was tested on femoral neck radiographs of patients and showed a significant correlation between the results and the pathologic state of the bone. The advantages of this optical method as a practical tool for the early detection of bone loss are further evaluated.

Date Published: 24 April 1996
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 2676, Biomedical Sensing, Imaging, and Tracking Technologies I, (24 April 1996); doi: 10.1117/12.238826

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2676:
Biomedical Sensing, Imaging, and Tracking Technologies I
Robert A. Lieberman; Halina Podbielska M.D.; Tuan Vo-Dinh, Editor(s)