OSTEOPOROSIS : SCREENING USING A DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD

Abstract

A digital image processing (DIP) method has been developed as a simple and easily available means of assessing the bone mineral density (BMD) of the metacarpals. This study was conducted to examine the usefulness of the DIP method in mass-screening for osteoporosis. BMD of the metacarpals, the lumbar spine and the calcaneus were assessed by a DIP method, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and single X-ray absorptiometry (SXA), respectively, in 231 female residents of rural town. The presence or absence of compression fracture of the spinal column was roentagenographically studied.The BMD of the metacarpals showed a significant correlation with that of the lumbar spine and calcaneus. Coefficients of correlation between DIP values and BMD of the lumbar spine (anterior-posterior view), DIP values and that of the lateral view, and DIP values and the calcaneus BMD were 0.47, 0.39 and 0.60, respectively. A DIP value of 2.18mmAl could detect women with low lumbar spinal BMD <0.897g/cm2, which included 90% of women with compression fracture.The sensitivity and specificity of the DIP value were 65% and 72%, respectively. These results indicate that the DIP method provides an index for assessing spinal or calcaneal BMD and can be used as a criterion in screening for osteoporosis.