Dual Energy CT and Morphometric Analysis of High Resolution CT Images for the Diagnosis of Bone Mineral Diseases

Densitometry and morphometry are two alternative methods for the diagnosis of bone mineral diseases. We investigate noninvasive approaches to both methods using X-ray computerized tomography (CT). We briefly describe our implementation of Dual Energy CT which allows calcium density measurements and present our efforts to achieve a morphometric assessment of trabecular bone from high resolution CT images by image processing methods. The CT results are compared to microradiographic evaluations using specimen studies. The aim is to combine both densitometric and morphometric data obtainable from a single CT patient examination.