TRABECULAR PATTERN-ANALYSIS USING FRACTAL DIMENSION

Feature extraction from a digitized image is advantageous for the dete ction of signs of disease. In this work, we attempted to evaluate bone trabecular pattern changes in osteoporosis using the fractal dimensio n and the root mean square (RMS) values. The relationship between the fractal dimension and the lst moment of the power spectrum is explored , and we investigated the relationship between the results of this ana lysis and the bone mineral density (BMD) value which was measured usin g dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). As a result, we were able t o extract useful information, using the fractal dimension and the RMS value of the radiographs (lateral view of the lumbar vertebrae), for t he diagnosis of osteoporosis. Abnormal clinical cases were separated f rom normal cases based on the evaluation values. Negligible correlatio n between the BMD value and these indexes was observed.