Bone morphometry and mineral density measurement using quantitative computed tomography

Thesis/Dissertation · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6758166

Jacobson, D R

Application of computed tomography (CT) to the study of bone structure and density was explored and developed. A review of bone mineral densitometry (BMD) methodology and general principles of quantitative CT (QCT) are presented. A method for QCT of the spine was developed using a flexible tissue equivalent reference placed adjacent to the patient. A methodology for the development and production of tissue equivalent materials is also presented. Patient equivalent phantoms were used to characterize the method, and phantom studies were performed at five clinical sites. A protocol is defined for measuring the inside diameter of the lumbar pedicular canal. Data generated from this study has proven invaluable in the planning for lumbar fusion surgery when screws are to be used for immobilization. Pedicular canal data from 33 patients is presented. QCT was also used to quantify several parameters of the femoral shaft for use in hip replacement surgical planning. Parameters studied include inside diameter, BMD, endosteal BMD and proximal shaft morphology. The structure and trabecular BMD of the proximal femur was extensively studied using QCT. A large variation was found in the fat content of marrow within the proximal femur, and phantom studies were performed to quantify the effect of fat on trabecular QCT BMD. Cadaveric trabecular bone samples with marrow were analyzed physically to determine water, fat, non-fat soft tissue, and ash content. Multiple thin-slice CT studies were performed on cadaveric femurs. A structural model of the proximal femur was developed in which the structural support is provided primarily by trabecular bone. This model may have profound implications in the study of femoral fractures and prosthetic hardware design.

• Research Organization: Wisconsin Univ., Madison, WI (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6758166
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550602* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
550800 -- Morphology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BODY
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DENSITY
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FEMUR
MATERIALS
MOCKUP
MORPHOLOGY
ORGANS
PHANTOMS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SKELETON
STRUCTURAL MODELS
TISSUE-EQUIVALENT MATERIALS
TOMOGRAPHY