ArticleEuropean radiology experimental2024
Dark-field radiography for the detection of bone microstructure changes in osteoporotic human lumbar spine specimens.
Article in European radiology experimental, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Feasibility of longitudinal in vivo monitoring of pulmonary disease progression in mouse models using laboratory-based x-ray dark-field CT.European radiology experimental · 2026Article
- Peer review: historical evolution and reviewers' learning.Insights into imaging · 2026Review
- Beam-hardening correction in clinical x-ray dark-field chest radiography using deep-learning-based bone segmentation.Medical physics · 2026Article
- Finite element fracture load analysis and dark-field X-ray imaging of osteoporotic and healthy vertebrae in human lumbar spine specimens.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2025Article
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11 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundDark-field radiography imaging exploits the wave character of x-rays to measure small-angle scattering on material interfaces, providing structural information with low radiation exposure. We explored the potential of dark-field imaging of bone microstructure to improve the assessment of bone strength in osteoporosis.
methodsWe prospectively examined 14 osteoporotic/osteopenic and 21 non-osteoporotic/osteopenic human cadaveric vertebrae (L2-L4) with a clinical dark-field radiography system, micro-computed tomography (CT), and spectral CT. Dark-field images were obtained in both vertical and horizontal sample positions. Bone microstructural parameters (trabecular number, Tb.N; trabecular thickness, Tb.Th; bone volume fraction, BV/TV; degree of anisotropy, DA) were measured using standard ex vivo micro-CT, while hydroxyapatite density was measured using spectral CT. Correlations were assessed using Spearman rank correlation coefficients.
resultsThe measured dark-field signal was lower in osteoporotic/osteopenic vertebrae (vertical position, 0.23 ± 0.05 versus 0.29 ± 0.04, p < 0.001; horizontal position, 0.28 ± 0.06 versus 0.34 ± 0.04, p = 0.003). The dark-field signal from the vertical position correlated significantly with Tb.N (ρ = 0.46, p = 0.005), BV/TV (ρ = 0.45, p = 0.007), DA (ρ = -0.43, p = 0.010), and hydroxyapatite density (ρ = 0.53, p = 0.010). The calculated ratio of vertical/horizontal dark-field signal correlated significantly with Tb.N (ρ = 0.43, p = 0.011), BV/TV (ρ = 0.36, p = 0.032), DA (ρ = -0.51, p = 0.002), and hydroxyapatite density (ρ = 0.42, p = 0.049).
conclusionDark-field radiography is a feasible modality for drawing conclusions on bone microarchitecture in human cadaveric vertebral bone. RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Gaining knowledge of the microarchitecture of bone contributes crucially to predicting bone strength in osteoporosis. This novel radiographic approach based on dark-field x-rays provides insights into bone microstructure at a lower radiation exposure than that of CT modalities. KEY POINTS: Dark-field radiography can give information on bone microstructure with low radiation exposure. The dark-field signal correlated positively with bone microstructure parameters. Dark-field signal correlated negatively with the degree of anisotropy. Dark-field radiography helps to determine the directionality of trabecular loss.
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