Current and Emerging Diagnostic Imaging-Based Techniques for Assessment of Osteoporosis and Fracture Risk

• Published in: IEEE reviews in biomedical engineering Vol. 12; pp. 254 - 268
• Main Authors: Areeckal, Anu Shaju, Kocher, Michel, S., Sumam David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 01.01.2019; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Algorithms; Biocompatibility; Biomedical measurement; Bone Density - physiology; Bone Diseases, Metabolic - diagnostic imaging; Bone Diseases, Metabolic - physiopathology; Bone mass; Bones; Computer architecture; Density measurement; Diagnosis; Diagnostic Imaging - trends; Diagnostic radiography; Diagnostic software; Diagnostic systems; fracture risk prediction; Fractures; Fragility; Geriatrics; Health risk assessment; Hip; Hip Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Hip Fractures - physiopathology; Humans; Image segmentation; image texture analysis; Imaging; Imaging techniques; medical diagnostic imaging; Medical imaging; Morbidity; Older people; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis - diagnostic imaging; Osteoporosis - physiopathology; Osteoporotic Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Osteoporotic Fractures - physiopathology; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Spinal Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Spinal Fractures - physiopathology; State-of-the-art reviews
• DOI: 10.1109/RBME.2018.2852620
• ISSN: 1937-3333; 1941-1189

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disorder characterized by low bone mass, degradation of bone microarchitecture, and susceptibility to fracture. It is a growing major health concern across the world, especially in the elderly population. Osteoporosis can cause hip or spinal fractures that may lead to high morbidity and socio-economic burden. Therefore, there is a need for early diagnosis of osteoporosis and prediction of fragility fracture risk. In this review, state of the art and recent advances in imaging techniques for diagnosis of osteoporosis and fracture risk assessment have been explored. Segmentation methods used to segment the regions of interest and texture analysis methods used for classification of healthy and osteoporotic subjects are also presented. Furthermore, challenges posed by the current diagnostic tools have been studied and feasible solutions to circumvent the limitations are discussed. Early diagnosis of osteoporosis and prediction of fracture risk require the development of highly precise and accurate low-cost diagnostic techniques that would help the elderly population in low economies.