Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Osteoporosis
Thomas Baum, Dimitrios C. Karampinos, Stefan Ruschke,
Hans Liebl, Peter B. Noël
l and Jan S. Bauer
ë
Abstract Osteoporosis is de
ned as a skeletal disorder characterized by compro-
mised bone strength predisposing an individual to an increased risk for fracture.
Osteoporotic fractures, in particular spine fractures, are associated with a high
mortality and generate immense
financial costs. Osteoporotic vertebral fractures
frequently occur in absence of a speci
c trauma and may be asymptomatic. Since a
prevalent vertebral fracture increases the risk of a subsequent fracture, the diagnosis
of osteoporotic vertebral fractures is highly important to initiate appropriate ther-
apy. Computer-assisted diagnostic tools for spine radiographs, dual-energy X-ray
absorptiometry (DXA) and multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) images
have been developed to support radiologists to correctly diagnose and report
osteoporotic vertebral fractures. The assessment of fracture risk at the spine has
traditionally relied on the measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) by using
DXA. However, BMD values of subjects with versus without osteoporotic fractures
overlap. Bone strength re
ects the integration of BMD and bone quality. The latter
can be partly determined by measurements of bone microstructure. High-resolution
MDCT allows for the assessment of trabecular bone microstructure at the spine.
