European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

FRACTAL ANALYSIS USING CONE BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CBCT) FOR DETECTING OSTEOPOROSIS.

Freny R. Karjodkar*, Krupa Bhatt and Kaustubh Sansare

ABSTRACT

Osteoporosis is a systemic disorder of bone characterized by a reduction in bone mass and detoriation of bone micro architecture. Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) is now being commonly prescribed as they offer more information as compared to conventional 2D radiographs. The aim of our in-vitro study was to examine fractal dimension (FD) changes on mandibular trabecular bone during simulated osteoporosis and evaluate fractal dimension in each region of interest on CBCT images and compare the same with Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) values. Twelve specimens were obtained from three cadaveric mandible bones subjected to decalcification at various time intervals to simulate osteoporosis. CBCT and DEXA scans were made before and after processing the samples. Grand average fractal dimension at each decalcification stage was calculated and correlation analysis was performed to quantify the relationship at each stage between FD and BMD. There was a significant difference in the FD and BMD values, p value (p<0.05). FD values at each stage of periodic decalcification were not significantly correlated with the BMD measurements. Further research related to fractal dimension requires a careful choice of method for calculating it, and that the fractal dimension which detects changes in trabecular structure, but may not be a descriptor of decalcification of trabecular bone.

Keywords: Osteoporosis, Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) Fractal dimension (FD), Bone mineral Density (BMD).