Visual assessment of femoral osteopenia (the radiographic presentation of osteoporosis) is unreliable. Many of the short-comings of observer grading can be overcome by digital image analysis. Our group has developed algorithms to make automatic assessment of osteopenia from clinical radiographs. Texture Analysis Models (TA) commonly used in image analysis were investigated as measures of osteopenia. Unlike densitometric methods, TA characterizes properties of the structure of the image (ie, trabecular patterns). A group of women were analyzed whose subjects ranged from those at risk of osteoporosis (n = 24) to normal (n = 40). Using an IBM PC, frame-grabber, camera, and light-box, we appraised five statistical TA algorithms for assessment of the femoral neck in standard pelvic radiographs: (

BackgroundThe accurate and reliable measurement of foot bone density is challenging and there is currently no gold standard technique. Such measurement is particularly valuable in populations at risk of foot bone pathology such as in those with long term diabetes. With research and development, computed tomography may prove to be a useful tool for this assessment. The aim of this study was to establish the reliability of a novel method of foot bone density measurement in people with diabetes using computed tomography.MethodsTen feet in people with diabetes were scanned with computed tomography twice with repositioning. Bone density (in Hounsfield units) was assessed in the trabecular and cortical bone in all tarsals and metatarsals. Reliability was assessed with intra-class correlation coefficients (95% confidence intervals), limits of agreement and standard error of measurement.ResultsThe reliability of the trabecular density of most bones was excellent with intra-class correlation coefficients ranging from 0.68 to 0.91. Additionally, cortical bone density showed fair to good reliability at the talus (0.52), calcaneus (0.59), navicular (0.70), cuboid (0.69), intermediate cuneiform (0.46) and first metatarsal (0.61).ConclusionsThe study established the reliability of a practical method of assessing the trabecular and cortical foot bone density using computed tomography scanning. This methodology may be useful in the investigation of foot bone disease occurring in diabetes and its early diagnosis, intervention and assessment of treatment efficacy. Further development of this method is warranted.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13047-017-0192-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract