Review of high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography for the assessment of bone microstructure and strength / 生物医学工程学杂志

ABSTRACT

Trabecular microstructure is an important factor in determining bone strength and physiological function. Normal X-ray and computed tomography (CT) cannot accurately reflect the microstructure of trabecular bone. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) is a new imaging technique in recent years. It can qualitatively and quantitatively measure the three-dimensional microstructure and volume bone mineral density of trabecular bone . It has high precision and relative low dose of radiation. This new imaging tool is helpful for us to understand the trabecular microstructure more deeply. The finite element analysis of HR-pQCT data can be used to predict the bone strength accurately. We can assess the risk of osteoporosis and fracture with three-dimensional reconstructed images and trabecular microstructure parameters. In this review, we summarize the technical flow, data parameters and clinical application of HR-pQCT in order to provide some reference for the popularization and extensive application of HR-pQCT.