METHODOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN MICRO-CT EVALUATION OF BONE MICRO-ARCHITECTURE: IMPORTANCE FOR INTERSTUDY COMPARABILITY:

Uros Andjelic; Marija Djuric; Jelena Jadzic

doi:10.5937/medi57-46221

Uros Andjelic Center of Bone Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade
Marija Djuric Center of Bone Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6267-827X
Jelena Jadzic Centar za biologiju kosti, Institut za anatomiju, Medicinski fakultet u Beogradu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3124-1400

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/medi57-46221

Keywords: Micro-CT, Femoral neck, Region of interest, Bone micro-architecture, Human

Abstract

Introduction: Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a standard 3D technique for non-destructive analysis of bone micro-architecture. Although many micro-CT studies have been available in contemporary literature, interstudy comparability is often challenging due to a lack of method standardization, particularly regarding human bone analyses.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the consistency of micro-CT generated micro-architectural parameters obtained by two researchers (interobserver reliability), by one researcher in two attempts (intraobserver reliability) as well as between manual and semi-automatic determination of the region of interest (ROI).

Material and methods: Superolateral femoral neck samples (n=8) were scanned with Bruker 1172 micro-CT system with a voxel size of 10 µm. We manually determined cortical and trabecular ROI (two authors, two attempts with a 45-day span). Also, trabecular ROI was determined using a semi-automatic method (round-shaped ROI with a diameter of 6.5 mm).

Results: The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) showed a high degree of consistency in the measurement of micro-architectural parameters of the superolateral femoral neck using the micro-CT (ICC range: 0.721-0.998; p<0.05). However, detailed analysis revealed significant interobserver and intraobserver differences, predominantly reflected in cortical porosity parameters (Student's t-test for dependent samples, p<0.05). On the other hand, the choice of ROI did not significantly affect trabecular micro-architectural parameters among researchers and between manual and semi-automatic demarcation methods (Student's t-test for dependent samples, p>0.05).

Conclusion: Our study emphasizes the importance of standardizing the methodology used in micro-CT evaluations of human bone samples, which could facilitate reliable interstudy comparison and ensure adequate results interpretation.

Author Biographies

Uros Andjelic, Center of Bone Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade

student integrisanih akademskih studija medicine,

visegodisnji saradnik Centra za biologiju kosti

Marija Djuric, Center of Bone Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade

rukovodilac Centra za biologiju kosti,

redovni profesor anatomije

Jelena Jadzic, Centar za biologiju kosti, Institut za anatomiju, Medicinski fakultet u Beogradu

MD, PhD, Teaching Assistant, Center of Bone Biology, Institute for Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade

METHODOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN MICRO-CT EVALUATION OF BONE MICRO-ARCHITECTURE: IMPORTANCE FOR INTERSTUDY COMPARABILITY

COULD THE METHODOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF MICRO-CT BONE EVALUATION BE AN ISSUE IN INTERSTUDY COMPARISON?

Abstract

Author Biographies