Long-term reproducibility optimization of an x-ray process for bone architectural evaluation during osteoporosis

Non-invasive and in vivo assessment of bone architectural changes at high resolution is of considerable interest in osteoporosis. In this note, the use of an x-ray acquisition system in the evaluation of the architectural quality of trabecular bone by radiographic texture analysis is optimized to achieve good long-term reproducibility. First, radiographic and digitization processes are modelled and defined. Procedures to make radiographs and their digital images are fixed. Then, measurements of the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the entire acquisition chain were completed. These measurements provide an MTF in excess of 30% at a spatial frequency of 2.5 lp/mm. Also, results of a fractal texture analysis made on digital images of calcaneus radiographs show a mean coefficient of variation of 2.07%. These data show that good long-term reproducibility can make the x-ray acquisition system efficient for patient follow-up, or evaluation of treatment regimes for osteoporosis. Finally, it is shown that fractal texture parameters are statistically different in an osteoporotic population and in a control group. Therefore, this system should also be of medical interest.