Registration of MR Trabecular Bone Images of the Proximal Femur in a Longitudinal Study

Janet Blumenfeld¹, Julio Carballido-Gamio², Jenny Folkesson², Dana Carpenter², Thomas M. Link², Sharmila Majumdar^1,2

This study is the first time that image registration has been implemented in a longitudinal study investigating changes in MR-derived trabecular bone structure. Image registration ensures that the same analysis region is used in baseline and follow-up images. The registration technique uses a mutual information based method to accurately register longitudinal MR images of the proximal femur. Results demonstrate improved accuracy in trabecular bone measurements between baseline and one year follow-up images and suggest that this algorithm is robust enough to be used routinely in longitudinal studies of trabecular bone in other musculoskeletal sites, such as the tibia and wrist.