A computer-aided system to estimate bone age based on Fourier analysis
was assessed by reference to the original radiographs used to produce
the Tanner-Whitehouse 2 (TW2) standards for the radius, ulna and shor
t finger bones. The computer-aided system involved matching a template
of each bone to the scanned image of the radiograph. The computer the
n generated a stage of bone maturity, individual and total bone scores
and a value for bone age. The bone ages assessed by the computer-aide
d system were no different from the original TW2 reference values, ind
icating the applicability of the system. The system was used to assess
the bone ages of tall Dutch girls, and the results obtained were comp
ared with more traditional assessments made by an experienced rater. F
or the radiographs from the tall girls, there was good agreement for i
ndividual bones between this method and the traditional assessment by
the rater, but less agreement for the total 13-bone score and bone age
.