Automated measurement of pediatric cranial bone thickness and density from clinical computed tomography.
Skull thickness and density measures of normal pediatric crania would inform multiple disciplines including neurosurgery, optical and magnetoelectrophysiological imaging, and biomechanical modeling of head trauma. We report on a new method for automated extraction of in vivo skull thickness and density measures of pediatric crania based on x-ray computed tomography scans (CT). Data were obtained from a clinical image repository for pediatric populations in whom no pathology was noted. Skull thickness and density measures were systematically obtained across the calvarium. We find a set of measures that correlated with physiological age that are likely to prove useful in multiple disciplines.
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. smithki@mir.wustl.edu
Kirk
K
Smith
David
D
Politte
Gregory
G
Reiker
Tracy S
TS
Nolan
Charles
C
Hildebolt
Chelsea
C
Mattson
Don
D
Tucker
Fred
F
Prior
Sergei
S
Turovets
Linda J
LJ
Larson-Prior
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000465:Algorithms; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*