title: An indirect method of measuring widths suitable for automated bone histomorphometry.
abstract: Orthogonal intercepts from random test lines (OIr), uniformly distributed intercepts (OIu), and areas and lengths (Ar/Le) were measured manually and by computer to determine individual profile and sample widths of artificial profiles and human osteoid seams. Individual widths were equal by Ar/Le and OIu methods. The means of individual profile widths (all methods), of all orthogonal intercepts (OIu and OIr), or of profile widths weighted in proportion to their lengths (Ar/Le) were also equal. Ar/Le and OIu had smaller variance than OIr. Discrepant individual OIu and Ar/Le widths in digitized images were corrected by thresholding and did not significantly affect sample means. Unweighted Ar/Le sample means were 15-44% lower than weighted means. Distributions of osteoid seam widths were not normal, and all but one had more than one mode. We conclude that the Ar/Le method is comparable to direct orthogonal intercept methods and suitable for automated histomorphometry.
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000473:pathology; D007085:Ilium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D010018:Osteomalacia / Q000473:pathology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000473:pathology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013194:Staining and Labeling