Title:MRI-based Texture Analysis in Differentiation of Benign and Malignant
Vertebral Compression Fractures
Volume: 20
Author(s): Nuri Karabay*, Huseyin Odaman, Alper Vahaplar, Ceren Kizmazoglu and Orhan Kalemci
Affiliation:
- Department of Radiology, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
Keywords:
Vertebral compression fracture, Magnetic resonance imaging, Texture analysis, Patients, Cases, Vertebral body.
Abstract:
Introduction:
The diagnosis and characterization of vertebral compression fractures are very important for clinical management. In this evaluation, which is
usually performed with diagnostic (conventional) imaging, the findings are not always typical or diagnostic. Therefore, it is important to have new
information to support imaging findings. Texture analysis is a method that can evaluate information contained in diagnostic images and is not
visually noticeable. This study aimed to evaluate the magnetic resonance images of cases diagnosed with vertebral compression fractures by the
texture analysis method, compare them with histopathological data, and investigate the effectiveness of this method in the differentiation of benign
and malignant vertebral compression fractures.
Methods:
Fifty-five patients with a total of 56 vertebral compression fractures were included in the study. Magnetic resonance images were examined and
segmented using Local Image Feature Extraction (LIFEx) software, which is an open-source program for texture analysis. The results were
compared with the histopathological diagnosis.
Results:
The application of the Decision Tree algorithm to the dataset yielded impressively accurate predictions (≈95% in accuracy, precision, and recall).
Conclusion:
Interpreting tissue analysis parameters together with conventional magnetic resonance imaging findings can improve the abilities of radiologists,
lead to accurate diagnoses, and prevent unnecessary invasive procedures. Further prospective trials in larger populations are needed to verify the
role and performance of texture analysis in patients with vertebral compression fractures.
