Oral Radiology

, Volume 18, Issue 2, pp 31–39 | Cite as

Application of node-strut analysis to skeletal patterns on digital radiographic images

  • Sukenao Numayama
  • Satsuki Kumasaka
  • Isamu Kashima
Original Article
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

Abstract

In this study, we applied node-strut analysis to digital images of known quantitative structures to determine its potential usefulness in assessing binary skeletal patterns extracted by morphological filtering of digital radiographic image data. The procedures we used included computed radiography (CR), node-strut analysis, and a mathematically based morphologic filtration. Six metallic wire lattice structures were so assembled as to have varying node (Nd) and terminus (Tm) points, and the lattice structures were used as test patterns whose structure was sequentially modified by reducing the wires in 6 steps. Digital radiographic images of the test patterns were produced using CR, and then 12 binary skeletal patterns having different numbers of Nd and Tm and varied strut length were extracted by the morphological filter. The binary skeletal pattern data were processed into the image data of 1-pixel thickness by using the thinning operation for node-strut analysis and then quantitatively assessed by node-strut analysis.

In each of the skeletal test patterns, the theoretical values and the values produced by the node-strut analysis were well correlated. The values of the analysis were also in agreement with our visual observation.

These results prove that the differences of connectivity of binary skeletal patterns extracted by morphological filtration may be assessed through the use of node-strut analysis of the numbers of Nd and Tm and the length of the strut.

Key Words

Node-strut analysis Mathematical morphology Digital image 
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Copyright information

© Japanese Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology 2002

Authors and Affiliations

  • Sukenao Numayama
    • 1
  • Satsuki Kumasaka
    • 2
  • Isamu Kashima
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Oral and Maxillofacial RadiologyKanagawa Dental CollegeKanagawaJapan
  2. 2.Department of RadiologyKomazawa UniversityTokyoJapan

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