Summary
A method of computed tomography (CT) image analysis of lumbar vertebrae has been developed, providing a visualization of the trabecular network as it is represented in a 1.5 mm-thick CT image. We measured the length of the network and the number of discontinuities found in the image. The ratio of these measurements was called the “trabecular fragmentation index” (TFI). CT images from 71 women between the ages of 50 and 59, and 94 women between the ages of 60 and 69 were divided into three groups according to quantitative computed tomography (QCT) vertebral density and to the presence or absence of crushing and fractures. The measure of the network length versus the vertebral area was significantly higher in normal subjects than in osteoporotics. A TFI threshold at 0.195 could separate the normal subjects, regardless of the decade, from osteoporotic ones. In females between 50 and 69 years of age, TFI was 0.166 (SD=0.031) for the normal group and 0.248 (SD=0.082) for osteoporotics. The osteopenic group without fractures but low bone mineral density (BMD) showed an intermediate TFI of 0.195 (SD=0.05), placing this population on both sides of the threshold. Correlation between TFI and BMD was only-0.60. TFI could provide new information in vivo about the state of trabecular structure, particularly in the osteopenic group.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Parfitt AM, Mathews CHE, Villanueva AR, Kleerekoper M, Frame B, Rao DS (1983) Relationship between surface, volume and thickness of iliac trabecular bone in aging and in osteoporosis: implications for the microanatomic and cellular mechanism of bone loss. J Clin Invest 72:1396–1409
Chappard D, Alexandre C, Riffat G (1988) Relations entre la masse osseuse trabéculaire et la disposition dans l'espace des trabécules osseuses. Rev Rhum 55(1):19–25
Compston JE, Mellish RWE, Garrahan NJ (1987) Trabecular bone structure in idiopathic and secondary osteoporosis. Osteoporosis 1:344–346
Kleerekoper M, Villanueva AR, Stanciu J, Sudhaker R, Parfitt AM (1985) The role of three-dimensional trabecular microstructure in the pathogenesis of vertebral compression fractures. Calcif Tissue Int 37:594–597
Vesterby A, Mosekilde Li, Gundersen HJG, Melsen F, Mosekilde Le, Holme K, Sorensen S (1991) Biologically meaningful determinants of the in vitro strength of lumbar vertebrae. Bone 12:219–224
Laval-Jeantet AM, Miravet L, Bergot C, De Vernejoul MC, Kuntz D, Laval-Jeantet M (1987) Tomodensitométrie vertébrale quantitative. Résultats sur 105 femmes consultant pour ostóporose. J Radiol 68:495–502
Laval-Jeantet AM, Laval-Jeantet M, Roger B, Scott C, Delmas PF (1984) Interêt et limites de la mesure tomodensitométrique de la minéralisation vertébrale. J Radiol 65:151–157
Cann CE, Genant HK, Kolb FO, Ettinger B (1985) Quantitative computed tomography for prediction of vertebral fracture risk. Bone 6:1–7
Biggemann M, Hilweg D, Seidel S, Horst M, Brinckmann P (1991) Risk of vertebral insufficiency fractures in relation to compressive strength predicted by quantitative computed tomography. Eur J Radiology 13:6–10
Henschke F, Kalender WA, Pesch HJ (1982) Structure analysis of vertebral body spongiosa by computed tomography. Proc 2nd Int. Workshop on Bone Densitometry Using CT. J Comput Asst Tomogr 6: 1:205–206
Cann CE, Genant HK (1980) Precise measurement of vertebral mineral content using computed tomography. J Comput Assist Tomogr 4:493–500
Rockoff SD, Selzer R (1968) Radiographic trabecular quantitation of human lumbar vertebrae in situ: progress in development of method and digital computer analysis. In: Progress in methods of bone mineral measurement. NIH Publ., Bethesda MD, pp 331–351
Geraets W, Van der Stelt P, Netelenbos CJ, Elders PJM (1990) A new method for automatic recognition of the radiographic trabecular pattern. J Bone Miner Res 5:227–233
Bergot C, Laval-Jeantet AM, Preteux F, Meunier A (1988) Measurement of anisotropic vertebral trabecular bone loss aging by quantitative image analysis. Calcif Tissue Int 43:143–149
Vesterby A, Gundersen HJG, Melsen F (1989) Star volume of marrow space and trabeculae of the first lumbar vertebra: sampling efficiency and biological variation. Bone 10:7–13
Vesterby A, Gundersen HJG, Melsen F, Mosekilde L (1989) Normal postmenopausal women show iliac crest trabecular thickening on vertical section. Bone 10:333–339
Block JE, Smith R, Glueer CC, Steiger P, Ettinger B, Genant HK (1989) Models of spinal trabecular bone loss as determined by QCT. J Bone Miner Res 4:249–257
Laval-Jeantet AM, Roger B, Bouysse S, Bergot C, Mazess RB (1986) Influence of vertebral fat content on quantitative CT density. Radiology 159:463–466
Mosekilde Li, Mosekilde Le, Danielsen CC (1987) Biomechanical competence of vertebral trabecular bone in relation to ash density and age in normal individuals. Bone 8:79–85
Chevalier F, Laval-Jeantet AM, Laval-Jeantet M (1990) Rendement en informations de l'image tomodensitométrique. Application a l'étude des travées vertébrales. 2nd Symp on Medical Imaging Research. Bordeaux (F), Oct: 10–13, 1990
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chevalier, F., Laval-Jeantet, A.M., Laval-Jeantet, M. et al. CT image analysis of the vertebral trabecular network in vivo . Calcif Tissue Int 51, 8–13 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00296208
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00296208