Fourier and wavelet analyses of dental radiographs detect trabecular changes in osteoporosis.
OBJECTIVE
Osteoporosis results in loss of bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration. Dental radiographs potentially offer a means of screening for osteoporosis as they are commonly made on adults. Spatial frequency analyses are well suited to detect subtle changes in image patterns. We hypothesize that individuals with osteoporosis exhibit an altered radiographic trabecular pattern that can be detected by spatial frequency and strut analysis.


METHODS
Maxillary and mandibular periapical radiographs of 26 women with osteoporosis and 23 controls were examined using one-dimensional discrete Fourier and wavelet analyses in both jaws to measure the spatial frequency distributions of trabecular structures. A strut analysis was also performed.


RESULTS
Individuals with osteoporosis revealed an altered trabecular pattern compared to controls. Using Fourier and strut variables allows classification of subjects with 92% sensitivity, 96% specificity, and a 22% cross-validation error rate. Wavelet analysis was also useful but did not perform better than Fourier analysis for subject classification.


CONCLUSIONS
Spatial frequency analysis of digitized dental radiographs, especially Fourier analysis, and strut analysis provide value for identifying individuals with osteoporosis.
Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668, USA.
Thomas D
TD
Faber
Douglas C
DC
Yoon
Susan K
SK
Service
Stuart C
SC
White
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity