Image-based Analysis of Trabecular Bone in Osteoporotic Rabbits: correlation of Morphological Features and Bone Mineral Density profile

JÉSICA ZUCHUAT; MANZANO A.S.; DECCO OSCAR

Biomedical Physics & Engineering Express

IOP Publishing

Lugar: London; Año: 2019 vol. 6 p. 1 - 12

2057-1976

To analyse a set of morphological features from digital radiographs (RX) and bonemineral density (BMD) values estimated from quantitative computerized tomography scans(QCT scans) of the knee joint of an osteoporotic rabbits, and to determine the relationship andcorrelation of these variables to be considered as an alternative diagnosis method. Methods:The knee joint of rabbits (N=9 ovariectomized and injected with of methylprednisolonesodium succinate (OVX+MPSS) and 3 sham operated healthy controls) were subjected toradiographic examination before the beginning of the study and after 6 weeks; after sacrifice,they were immediately scanned with a 64-channel CT. A set of morphological features wasextracted from RX images and then subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA);BMD-values were calculated at different depths from the articular surface of the femur andthe tibia. The selected morphological variables and the BMD values were correlated in orderto determine useful information in medical diagnostics. Results: Ten morphological variablesexplained 80.39% of the total variability, but only some of them demonstrated significantdifferences between baseline and OVX+SSMP states and between OVX+SSMP and control.Spearman analysis showed higher positive and negative correlation of these parametersamong them (r=0.67, 0.81, 0.83 and 1); and a moderate correlation with the BMD values(r=0.50, 0.52, 0.52 and 0.55) during the progression of osteoporosis (OP). Conclusion: TheSpearman´s rank test supported the overall significant correlation between both, themorphological features and BMD values, making them as a reliable alternative option to thediagnosis of osteoporosis.