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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
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A Sectioning, Coring, and Image Processing Guide for High-Throughput Cortical Bone Sample Procurement and Analysis for Synchrotron Micro-CT
Published on: June 12, 2020
Analyzing cortical bone cross-sectional geometry by peripheral QCT: comparison with bone histomorphometry
Saija Kontulainen1, Danmei Liu, Sarah Manske
1Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Summary
Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) bone geometry measurements vary by analysis mode and threshold. Selecting optimal settings is crucial for accurate cortical bone area (CoA) assessment and bone strength prediction.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Radiology
Background:
- Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) is valuable for assessing bone strength via cross-sectional geometry and density.
- Accurate determination of cortical bone cross-sectional area (CoA) depends on appropriate analysis mode and threshold selection.
- No prior study has compared pQCT analysis protocols against histomorphometry for tibial bone geometry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate which pQCT analysis protocol best represents tibial bone geometry compared to histomorphometry.
- To assess the agreement of different thresholds for defining the endosteal border of cortical bone.
Main Methods:
- Sixteen human cadaver tibiae were scanned using pQCT (XCT 2000) at the 25% proximal site.
- Histomorphometry was performed at the same site as the gold standard.
- Scans were analyzed using manufacturer-recommended settings and two additional thresholding methods (half-maximum height, inflection point).
Main Results:
- Contour mode 3 with an outer threshold of 169 mg/cm³ yielded the smallest error (-1.0%) in total cross-sectional area (ToA).
- Separation mode 4 (outer threshold 200 mg/cm³, inner threshold 670 mg/cm³) provided the most accurate CoA measurement (0.1% error).
- An inner threshold of 480 mg/cm³ consistently overestimated CoA by 5-7% compared to the criterion standard.
Conclusions:
- pQCT measurements of bone geometry in vitro are sensitive to the chosen analysis modes and thresholds.
- The impact of these variations on bone strength prediction requires further investigation.
- Optimizing pQCT analysis protocols is essential for reliable assessment of tibial bone geometry and strength.
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