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Quantitative analysis of spinal curvature in 3D: application to CT images of normal spine

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to present a framework for quantitative analysis of spinal curvature in 3D. In order to study the properties of such complex 3D structures, we propose two descriptors that capture the characteristics of spinal curvature in 3D. The descriptors are the geometric curvature (GC) and curvature angle (CA), which are independent of the orientation and size of spine anatomy. We demonstrate the two descriptors that characterize the spinal curvature in 3D on 30 computed tomography (CT) images of normal spine and on a scoliotic spine. The descriptors are determined from 3D vertebral body lines, which are obtained by two different methods. The first method is based on the least-squares technique that approximates the manually identified vertebra centroids, while the second method searches for vertebra centroids in an automated optimization scheme, based on computer-assisted image analysis. Polynomial functions of the fourth and fifth degree were used for the description of normal and scoliotic spinal curvature in 3D, respectively. The mean distance to vertebra centroids was 1.1 mm ({+-}0.6 mm) for the first and 2.1 mm ({+-}1.4 mm) for the second method. The distributions of GC and CA values were obtained along the 30 images of normal  More>>
Authors:
Vrtovec, Tomaz; Likar, Bostjan; Pernus, Franjo [1] 
  1. University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Trzaska 25, SI-1000 Ljubljana (Slovenia)
Publication Date:
Apr 07, 2008
Product Type:
Journal Article
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: Physics in Medicine and Biology; Journal Volume: 53; Journal Issue: 7; Other Information: PII: S0031-9155(08)61681-4; DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/53/7/006; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Subject:
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE; ANATOMY; COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY; IMAGE PROCESSING; IMAGES; LEAST SQUARE FIT; OPTIMIZATION; POLYNOMIALS; VERTEBRAE
OSTI ID:
21093059
Country of Origin:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Journal ID: ISSN 0031-9155; PHMBA7; TRN: GB08Q7495103110
Availability:
Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0031-9155/53/7/006;INIS
Submitting Site:
GBN
Size:
page(s) 1895-1908
Announcement Date:
Nov 13, 2008

Citation Formats

Vrtovec, Tomaz, Likar, Bostjan, and Pernus, Franjo. Quantitative analysis of spinal curvature in 3D: application to CT images of normal spine. United Kingdom: N. p., 2008. Web. doi:10.1088/0031-9155/53/7/006; COUNTRY OF INPUT: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA).
Vrtovec, Tomaz, Likar, Bostjan, & Pernus, Franjo. Quantitative analysis of spinal curvature in 3D: application to CT images of normal spine. United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9155/53/7/006; COUNTRY OF INPUT: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)
Vrtovec, Tomaz, Likar, Bostjan, and Pernus, Franjo. 2008. "Quantitative analysis of spinal curvature in 3D: application to CT images of normal spine." United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9155/53/7/006; COUNTRY OF INPUT: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA).
@misc{etde_21093059,
title = {Quantitative analysis of spinal curvature in 3D: application to CT images of normal spine}
author = {Vrtovec, Tomaz, Likar, Bostjan, and Pernus, Franjo}
abstractNote = {The purpose of this study is to present a framework for quantitative analysis of spinal curvature in 3D. In order to study the properties of such complex 3D structures, we propose two descriptors that capture the characteristics of spinal curvature in 3D. The descriptors are the geometric curvature (GC) and curvature angle (CA), which are independent of the orientation and size of spine anatomy. We demonstrate the two descriptors that characterize the spinal curvature in 3D on 30 computed tomography (CT) images of normal spine and on a scoliotic spine. The descriptors are determined from 3D vertebral body lines, which are obtained by two different methods. The first method is based on the least-squares technique that approximates the manually identified vertebra centroids, while the second method searches for vertebra centroids in an automated optimization scheme, based on computer-assisted image analysis. Polynomial functions of the fourth and fifth degree were used for the description of normal and scoliotic spinal curvature in 3D, respectively. The mean distance to vertebra centroids was 1.1 mm ({+-}0.6 mm) for the first and 2.1 mm ({+-}1.4 mm) for the second method. The distributions of GC and CA values were obtained along the 30 images of normal spine at each vertebral level and show that maximal thoracic kyphosis (TK), thoracolumbar junction (TJ) and maximal lumbar lordosis (LL) on average occur at T3/T4, T12/L1 and L4/L5, respectively. The main advantage of GC and CA is that the measurements are independent of the orientation and size of the spine, thus allowing objective intra- and inter-subject comparisons. The positions of maximal TK, TJ and maximal LL can be easily identified by observing the GC and CA distributions at different vertebral levels. The obtained courses of the GC and CA for the scoliotic spine were compared to the distributions of GC and CA for the normal spines. The significant difference in values indicates that the descriptors of GC and CA may be used to detect and quantify scoliotic spinal curvatures. The proposed framework may therefore improve the understanding of spine anatomy and aid in the clinical quantitative evaluation of spinal deformities.}
doi = {10.1088/0031-9155/53/7/006; COUNTRY OF INPUT: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)}
journal = []
issue = {7}
volume = {53}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {2008}
month = {Apr}
}