The direct examination of three-dimensional bone architecture in vitro by computed tomography.
Feldkamp LA, Goldstein SA, Parfitt AM, Jesion G, Kleerekoper M.
Physics Department, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI.
We describe a new method for the direct examination of three-dimensional bone structure in vitro based on high-resolution computed tomography (CT). Unlike clinical CT, a three-dimensional reconstruction array is created directly, rather than a series of two-dimensional slices. All structural indices commonly determined from two-dimensional histologic sections can be obtained nondestructively from a large number of slices in each of three orthogonal directions. This permits a comprehensive description of structural variation within a specimen and greatly facilitates the study of structural anisotropy. A measure of three-dimensional connectivity (Euler number/tissue volume) has been determined for the first time in human cancellous bone and shown to correlate with several two-dimensional histomorphometric indices. The method has the potential for overcoming many of the limitations of current approaches to the study of bone architecture at the microscopic level.
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PMID: 2718776 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]