Dark-field radiography for the detection of bone microstructure changes in osteoporotic human lumbar spine specimens

作者：Jon Rischewski, Florian T. Gassert, Theresa Urban, Johannes Hammel, Alexander Kufner, Christian Braun, M E Lochschmidt, Marcus R. Makowski, Daniela Pfeiffer, Alexandra S. Gersing, Franz Pfeiffer · 发表于：European Radiology Experimental · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1186/s41747-024-00524-3 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Advanced X-ray Imaging Techniques、Advanced X-ray and CT Imaging、Radiation Shielding Materials Analysis

BACKGROUND: Dark-field radiography imaging exploits the wave character of x-rays to measure small-angle scattering on material interfaces, providing structural information with low radiation exposure. We explored the potential of dark-field imaging of bone microstructure to improve the assessment of bone strength in osteoporosis. METHODS: We prospectively examined 14 osteoporotic/osteopenic and 21 non-osteoporotic/osteopenic human cadaveric vertebrae (L2-L4) with a clinical dark-field radiography system, micro-computed tomography (CT), and spectral CT. Dark-field images were obtained in both vertical and horizontal sample positions. Bone microstructural parameters (trabecular number, Tb.N; trabecular thickness, Tb.Th; bone volume fraction, BV/TV; degree of anisotropy, DA) were measured using standard ex vivo micro-CT, while hydroxyapatite density was measured using spectral CT. Correlations were assessed using Spearman rank correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The measured dark-field signal was lower in osteoporotic/osteopenic vertebrae (vertical position, 0.23 ± 0.05 versus 0.29 ± 0.04, p < 0.001; horizontal position, 0.28 ± 0.06 versus 0.34 ± 0.04, p = 0.003). The dark-field signal from the vertical position correlated significantly with Tb.N (ρ = 0.46, p = 0.005), BV/TV (ρ = 0.45, p = 0.007), DA (ρ = -0.43, p = 0.010), and hydroxyapatite density (ρ = 0.53, p = 0.010). The calculated ratio of vertical/horizontal dark-field signal correlated significantly with Tb.N (ρ = 0.43, ...