Pixel intensity and fractal analyses: detecting osteoporosis in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women by using digital panoramic images.
OBJECTIVE
Pixel intensity values (PI) and fractal dimensions (FD) were compared in selected mandibular regions on digital panoramic images of normal, osteopenic, and osteoporotic perimenopausal and postmenopausal women to evaluate their relative efficacies in detecting osteoporotic-associated bone density changes.


METHODS
Standardized mandibular angle, body, and canine/premolar (C/PM) regions on 54 charge-coupled device (CCD) digital panoramic images of normal and potentially osteoporotic postmenopausal women were analyzed for PI and FD. Lumbar spine and femoral neck dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) on each patient served as the reference standard examination. Pearson correlation coefficients and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed.


RESULTS
There was significant correlation among PI measurements (P < 0.01), and no significant correlation between FD. C/PM had significantly lower PI than control C/PM (P = 0.049).


CONCLUSIONS
Osteoporotic changes in mandibular C/PM cancellous bone were detected in our study population on CCD digital panoramic images by using a robust image analysis paradigm. Future automated application of such image analysis could enable widespread, cost effective screening for osteoporosis in dental settings.
Tosoni
Guilherme M
GM
Department of Diagnosis and Surgery, Araraquara Dental School-UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil. tosoni@foar.unesp.br
Lurie
Alan G
AG
Cowan
Ann E
AE
Burleson
Joseph A
JA
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D017709:Fractals; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D047648:Perimenopause; D017698:Postmenopause; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000379:methods*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens