Assessment of trabecular bone structure in postmenopausal and senile osteoporosis in women by image analysis
J Jakubas-Przewłocka1, A Sawicki, P Przewłocki
1Department of Mineral Metabolism and Bone Disease, National Food and Nutrition Institute, Warsaw, Poland. jjakubas@amwaw.edu.pl
Objective:
The aim of the study was to assess bone trabecular structure in postmenopausal and senile osteoporosis.
Methods:
The study was performed on transiliac specimens obtained from women with postmenopausal (n=10) and senile osteoporosis (n=10) and on normal autopsy bone (n=7). Digitalized microradiographs were analysed using dedicated software allowing for selection of longitudinal and transversal elements.
Results:
Significant differences between transversal and control, as well as between longitudinal and control trabecular areas were observed in senile osteoporosis (p<0.005). In postmenopausal osteoporosis, such differences were found for longitudinal trabeculae only (p<0.005). Mean longitudinal trabecular area loss in senile and postmenopausal osteoporosis as compared to control group was 57.2% and 25.7%, respectively. Respective values for transversal trabecular area were 35.0% and 59.4%.
Conclusion:
Structural anisotropy of trabecular bone is greater in postmenopausal than in senile osteoporosis and control group. The method developed allows the evaluation of bone structures in radiographs with uneven exposure.
