title: An automatic model-based system for joint space measurements on hand radiographs: initial experience.
abstract: This ethics committee-approved pilot study was performed with informed consent. A Web-based service that was developed for automated measurement of joint space and automatic analysis of radiographs was tested prospectively. A total of 160 metacarpophalangeal joint spaces were measured in 20 patients (average age, 48 years; age range, 18-89 years; 16 women) suspected of having rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. The technical success rate was 93%. The smallest detectable difference in repeated automatic joint space width measurements varied from 0.08 to 0.31 mm, and the coefficient of variation was 2%-7%. Compared with the reference standard (interactive segmentation of the joint space widths) measurements, results were within a mean error of 0.19-0.40 mm. The proposed Web-based service enables reproducible joint space measurements to be obtained in metacarpophalangeal joints with moderate erosive and osteophytic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peloschek
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Langs
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sailer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reisegger
authors.forename: Herwig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imhof
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bischof
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kainberger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D050823:Hand Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012984:Software