Quantitative image processing of 3D biological structures

With recent advances in genetics and molecular medicine there is a strong need for quantitative image processing of three-dimensional (3D) biological structures. A number of new microstructural imaging modalities have been put forward recently allowing phenotypic quantification with high precision and accuracy in humans and animals, especially in the mouse. Although biomedical imaging technology is now readily available, few attempts have been made to expand the capabilities of these systems by adding quantitative analysis tools as an integrative part of the biomedical information technology. In this article, strategies for new 3D approaches of quantitative image processing in the study and treatment of osteoporosis and bone loss will be presented. The focus will be on the bioengineering and imaging aspects of osteoporosis research. With the introduction of microstructural imaging systems such as desktop micro-computed tomography (/spl mu/CT), a new generation of imaging instruments has entered the arena allowing easy and relatively inexpensive access to the 3D microstructure of bone, thereby giving researchers a powerful tool for the exploration of age-related bone loss and osteoporosis.