Editorial Type:
Diagnostic Imaging

Effect of region of interest and slice thickness on vertebral bone mineral density measured by use of quantitative computed tomography in dogs

Yeonho Bae Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500–757, South Korea.

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Seungjo Park Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500–757, South Korea.

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Sunghoon Jeon Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500–757, South Korea.

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Gahyun Lee Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500–757, South Korea.

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Jihye Choi Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500–757, South Korea.

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.75.7.642
Volume/Issue:
Volume 75: Issue 7
Online Publication Date:
01 Jul 2014
Restricted access
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Abstract

Objective—To determine the effect of region of interest (ROI) setting and slice thickness on trabecular bone mineral density (BMD) measured with quantitative CT in dogs.

Animals—14 healthy Beagles.

Procedures—CT of the lumbar vertebrae and a quantitative CT phantom was performed. The BMD of trabecular bone was measured from L1 to L7 in 2 ways in all dogs. First, sequential 9.6-mm-thick CT images were acquired and then CT images were reconstructed into transverse CT images with slice thicknesses of 2.4, 4.8, and 9.6 mm. The obtained images were analyzed by circular ROI and trace ROI methods. Second, lumbar vertebrae were scanned with the installed quantitative CT protocol with a slice thickness of 10 mm and then the CT images were analyzed by installed automatic BMD software.

Results—Interclass correlation coefficients of the automatic software (0.975 to 1.0) and the circular method (0.871 to 0.996) were high, compared with those of the trace method (0.582 to 0.996). The BMD measured with the automatic software was not significantly different from that measured with circular ROI and a slice thickness of 9.6 mm. The BMD measured by use of the circular method was not different according to slice thickness.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results obtained by use of automatic software were similar to those obtained by use of more manual methods. The CT images with thinner slice thickness (2.4 and 4.8 mm) could be used in dogs of toy and small breeds to measure lumbar vertebrae BMD to reduce the limitations of the standard 10-mm slice thickness.

Abstract

Objective—To determine the effect of region of interest (ROI) setting and slice thickness on trabecular bone mineral density (BMD) measured with quantitative CT in dogs.

Animals—14 healthy Beagles.

Procedures—CT of the lumbar vertebrae and a quantitative CT phantom was performed. The BMD of trabecular bone was measured from L1 to L7 in 2 ways in all dogs. First, sequential 9.6-mm-thick CT images were acquired and then CT images were reconstructed into transverse CT images with slice thicknesses of 2.4, 4.8, and 9.6 mm. The obtained images were analyzed by circular ROI and trace ROI methods. Second, lumbar vertebrae were scanned with the installed quantitative CT protocol with a slice thickness of 10 mm and then the CT images were analyzed by installed automatic BMD software.

Results—Interclass correlation coefficients of the automatic software (0.975 to 1.0) and the circular method (0.871 to 0.996) were high, compared with those of the trace method (0.582 to 0.996). The BMD measured with the automatic software was not significantly different from that measured with circular ROI and a slice thickness of 9.6 mm. The BMD measured by use of the circular method was not different according to slice thickness.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results obtained by use of automatic software were similar to those obtained by use of more manual methods. The CT images with thinner slice thickness (2.4 and 4.8 mm) could be used in dogs of toy and small breeds to measure lumbar vertebrae BMD to reduce the limitations of the standard 10-mm slice thickness.

Contributor Notes

Supported by a research grant from Chonnam National University in 2011.

Address correspondence to Dr. Choi (imsono@hanmail.net).
Cover American Journal of Veterinary Research
American Journal of Veterinary Research
Publication Date:
01 Jul 2014

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