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Research Methods > Non-invasive analysis of skeletal structures > Flashcards

Non-invasive analysis of skeletal structures Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the reasons to image bone?

A

Clinical investigations
Research
Forensic purposes

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2
Q

What are examples of clinical investigations of bone?

A

Diagnosis of pathologies
Identification of fractures
Pre-surgical visualisation

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3
Q

What are examples of research purposes of bone?

A

Investigation of bone structure
Cortical and trabecular bone comparisons:
-within inidividuals
-between ontogenetic developmental groups
-between comparative species

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4
Q

What are examples of forensic purposes of bone?

A

Assessment of microscopic trauma

Skeletal observation without destryong (CBRN - chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear)

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5
Q

What are the types of 2D imaging techniques?

A

Plane plate radiography
Modified plane plate radiography
Ultrasonography

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6
Q

What are examples of 3D imaging techniques?

A

CT - computed tomography

MRI

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7
Q

How is 3D image data produced?

A

All based on 2D image capture

‘Slices’ are produced at each scanning interval along a subject and then combined

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8
Q

What are ‘slices’ comprised of?

A

Pixels

X x Y

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9
Q

What is 3D data comprised of?

A

Voxels

X x Y x Z

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10
Q

What is resolution?

A

Pixel size divided by voxel size

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11
Q

Properties of Radiography

A

2D representation of 3D structures - no depth
Superimposition is a problem - overlying/underlying or dense structures obscure details and features
Very useful clinically - cheap, fast (almost instant), low radiation dosage
Difficult to make accurate measurements - magnifaction

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12
Q

How does the source of radiography work?

A

A beam of x-rays is produced by an x-ray generator
The beam is directed towards an object, which comprises materials of differing densitites
A proportion of x-rays are absorbed by the dense material of the object

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13
Q

How does the detector of Radiography work?

A

Remaining x-rays reach a detector where they are viewed as an image

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14
Q

Historically what was used to capture x-rays?

A

Photographic film sensitive to x-rays

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15
Q

What is modernly used to capture x-rays?

A

Digital plates containing diode arrays

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16
Q

What are the benefits of the modern day x-ray equipment?

A

Re-usable

Processed instantly using computer software

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17
Q

What is the process of macro-radiography?

A

Method of enlarging radiographs - increases the size of the image relative to that of the object

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18
Q

How does macro-radiography work?

A

By increasing the object-film distance relative to focal-film distance
Object further from detector = bigger picture

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19
Q

What is macro-radiography useful for?

A

Observing fine details such as:

  • carpals
  • petrous temporal
  • lacrimal system
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20
Q

Why is macro-radiography outdated?

A

Modern digital detectors give very high resolution images

Can be magnified digitally

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21
Q

What are CT scans based on?

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A

Based on x-ray radiography and digital detectors

22
Q

How do CT scans work?

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A

X-ray source and detectors mounted on a ring on opposing sides
Rotates 360 degrees around the subject capturing data in intervals

23
Q

What do CT scans produce?

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A

They don’t produce an image

They measure transmission levels of a thin beam of xrays through a full scan of the body

24
Q

How is an image produced from a CT scan?

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A

Detectors transmit measurement data to a PC
Computer uses mathematical algorithms for image reconstruction
Collates each interval to form a ‘slice’
Series of slices is collected from the length of the subject

25
What is the attenuation coefficient?
A quantitiy that characterises how easily a material or medium can be penetrated by a beam of light, sound, particles or other energy/matter
26
What are the units of attenuation coefficient?
Hounsfield units
27
What are the hounsfield units of air, fat, water and compact bone?
Air = -1000 HU Fat = -60 to -120 HU Water = 0 HU Compact bone = +1000 HU
28
Why are CTs useful in clinical settings?
``` Can be interpreted and displayed in innumerable ways: -2D slices -Multi-planar reconstruction -3 volume or surface rendering No superimposition High tolerance for tissue determination ```
29
What are the pros of CT?
Availability - most modern hospitals have facilities Large gantry sizes - up to whole body scans Relatively quick scan and reconstruction - depends on computing power
30
What are the cons of CT?
Poor spatial resolution 'Streak' artefacts associated with bone Higher radiation dose Relatively high running costs - hardware, facilities, operators, maintenance
31
What was introduced in 1970s by Hounsfield?
Computed Tomography
32
What was introduced by Feldkamp et al in 1989?
Micro computed tomography
33
What is micro computed tomography specifically designed for?
High-resolution imaging of bone
34
What is the difference in spatial resolution of CT and micro CT?
CT - >0.3mm | Micro CT - 0.01mm
35
How does micro CT work?
Specimen mounted on rotating stage and positioned between fixed X-ray source and detector X-ray projections acquired by phosphor detector then released through fibre optic taper Taper output feeds into charged coupled device image sensor which converts photons to electrons
36
What does the fibre optic taper do?
Acts as a funnel to reduce size of image
37
What are the pros of micro CT?
Great for quantification of structural indices which aid explainng bone form Indispensable tool for bone analysis High spatial resolution achievable Good contrast in dry bone
38
What are the cons of micro CT?
Gantry size does not allow imaging of whole bones Larger specimens result in lower resolution and loss of detail Mostly carried out on animals, not suited for in-vivo humans Long scan and reconstruction time Artefact production if specimen outside field of view
39
How can micro CT be applied?
Initially for study of trabecular bone architecture Regarded as gold standard for assessment of trabecular bone Assessment of animal models Recently applied to investigation of ontogenetic development in human skeletal collections
40
What is the magnetic resonance imaging based on?
Excitation of hydrogen nuclei in water
41
What do detectors of magnetic resonance imaging do?
Pick up energy emissions during movement Produce a 3D image based on slices Protons in different tissue return to their normal alignment at different rates so scanner can distinguish among tissues
42
What type of radiation is used in magnetic resonance imaging?
Non-ionising radiation
43
What can micro-MRI be applied to?
Visualisation of trabecular bone
44
What does micro-MRI rely on?
Free protons
45
What does bone require for micro-MRI?
Ideally the presence of soft tissue
46
How is a good picture still achieved from micro MRI?
Bone mineral lacks free protons, so limited MR signal Soft tissue has a high water content Although bone images poorly, good definition can be achieved due to the obvious contrast between hard and soft tissue
47
What are the pros of micro MRI?
Good contrast between tissue types | Non ionising
48
What are the cons of micro-MRI?
``` Good but limited resolution for trabecular analysis Limited resonator size Lengthy scan time Scan artefacts Powerful magnetic field ```
49
What are the applications for micro MRI?
Predominantly research based, due to specimen size limitations Investigation of bone architecture when in the presence of soft tissue Investigation of anatomical compartments in animal models
50
What did Bolliger et al study in 2008?
Virtual autopsy using imaging Implementation of modern imaging techniques to augment current examination techniques or offer alternative means of analysis
51
What is Bolliger et al's 2008 study useful for?
Non-invasive analysis of the skeleton in both the living and deceased
52
What was dedouit et al's study in 2007?
Virtual anthropology and forensic identification Charred body found in house, identification unknown CT performed to assess potential of radiolgogical anthropological bone identification

Research Methods (3 decks)

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