DXA is the gold standard technique used for the management and follow-up of osteoporosis. 3D-SHAPER is a software application that registers a 3D statistical model onto the hip DXA scan of the patient, and uses a model-based algorithm to create a 3D map of the cortical surface density. It allows clinicians to assess the cortical and trabecular macrostructure in 3D from a standard hip DXA scan.
A multicenter clinical study was performed to compare 3D-SHAPER with Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) analyses. Strong correlations were found between measurements performed using the two techniques [1].
Picture: Cortical thickness distribution (left) and frontal slices showing bone density values (right) obtained by 3D-SHAPER and QCT for three patients [1].
3D-SHAPER incorporates a statistical model built from a database of quantitative computed tomography scans. The shape and density variations in the first three principal directions are shown [1].
3D-SHAPER registers the statistical model onto the DXA projection of the patient. The algorithm maximizes the similarity between the projection of the model and the DXA image [1].
3D-SHAPER estimates the cortical thickness and density by the fitting a mathematical function onto the density profiles measured along the normal vector at each vertex of the femoral shape [2].