[Radiological assessment of bone quality]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics and Biomedical Engineering
• Radiology and Medical Imaging
• Bone Biology and Disease

Background:

• Bone structural property encompasses micro/nano-structure and macroscopic geometry.
• Assessing bone health is crucial for understanding osteoporosis and treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review radiological techniques for analyzing bone structural properties.
• To highlight the link between bone structure, biomechanics, and pathological changes.

Main Methods:

• Ex vivo analysis using micro-CT and synchrotron-CT for micro/nano-structure.
• In vivo analysis using multi-detector row CT (MDCT) and high-resolution peripheral QCT (HR-pQCT).
• CT-based hip structure analysis (HSA) for hip geometry, alongside radiography and DXA-based HSA.

Main Results:

• Various CT modalities enable detailed assessment of bone micro/nano-structure and macro-geometry.
• Hip structure analysis provides insights into hip geometry relevant to fracture risk.
• These methods offer valuable data on bone's pathological changes and therapeutic responses.

Conclusions:

• Radiological techniques are essential tools for evaluating bone structural properties in vitro and in vivo.
• Structural parameters derived from these methods correlate with biomechanical properties.
• These assessments aid in diagnosing bone diseases and monitoring anti-osteoporotic treatments.