Spinal Bone Mineral Determination Using Automated Contour Detection: Application To Single And Dual Energy CT

Abstract

The measurement of spinal bone mineral content has been achieved by using automated contour detection on CT images. The method reproducibly provides a definition of the cortical area and calibrates a region of interest over essentially the whole spongeous bone. The algorithm can be used in single and dual energy CT studies. In single energy examinations the analyses employ a correction procedure based upon the method introduced by Cann and Genant. The procedures were tested on 40 randomly selected vertebral images.