title: Volumetric quantification of bone-implant contact using micro-computed tomography analysis based on region-based segmentation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have developed a new method of segmenting the areas of absorbable implants and bone using region-based segmentation of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) images, which allowed us to quantify volumetric bone-implant contact (VBIC) and volumetric absorption (VA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The simple threshold technique generally used in micro-CT analysis cannot be used to segment the areas of absorbable implants and bone. Instead, a region-based segmentation method, a region-labeling method, and subsequent morphological operations were successively applied to micro-CT images. The three-dimensional VBIC and VA of the absorbable implant were then calculated over the entire volume of the implant. Two-dimensional (2D) bone-implant contact (BIC) and bone area (BA) were also measured based on the conventional histomorphometric method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VA and VBIC increased significantly with as the healing period increased (p<0.05). VBIC values were significantly correlated with VA values (p<0.05) and with 2D BIC values (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to quantify VBIC and VA for absorbable implants using micro-CT analysis using a region-based segmentation method.
authors: Interdisciplinary Program in Radiation, Applied Life Science Major, College of Medicine, BK21, and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sung-Won
authors: SW
authors: Kang
authors: Interdisciplinary Program in Radiation, Applied Life Science Major, College of Medicine, BK21, and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Woo-Jin
authors: WJ
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, BK21, and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Soon-Chul
authors: SC
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, BK21, and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sam-Sun
authors: SS
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, BK21, and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Min-Suk
authors: MS
authors: Heo
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, BK21, and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Kyung-Hoe
authors: KH
authors: Huh
authors: Department of Periodontology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Tae-Il
authors: TI
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, BK21, and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Won-Jin
authors: WJ
authors: Yi
keywords: Absorbable Implants; Computer-Assisted Image Processing; Osseointegration; X-Ray Microtomography