Osteoporosis evaluation through full developed speckle imaging

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by bone mineral density reduction, weakening the bone structure. Its diagnosis is performed using ionizing radiation, increasing health risk. Optical techniques are safer, due to non-ionizing radiation use, but limited to the analyses of bone tissue. This limitation may be circumvented in the oral cavity. In this work we explored the use of laser speckle imaging (LSI) to differentiate the sound and osteoporotic maxilla and mandible bones in an in vitro model. Osteoporosis lesions were simulated with acid attack. The samples were evaluated by optical profilometry and LSI, using a custom software. Two image parameters were evaluated, speckle contrast ration and patches ratio. With the speckle contrast ratio, it was possible to differentiate sound from osteoporotic tissue. From speckle patches ratio it was observed a negative correlation with the roughness parameter. LSI is a promissory technique for assessment of osteoporosis lesions on alveolar bone.