James F. Griffith1, Defeng Wang1, Yi-Xiang Wang1, Shi Lin1, Min Deng1, Lai-Shan Tam2, Edmund K. Li2
1Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong; 2Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
Currently no method exists to objectively quantify spinal inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Typically inflammation in AS involves the vertebral body corner areas. Several subjective scoring systems for spinal inflammation in AS exist. The proposed computerized quantification method automatically isolates the vertebral body corner area as well as the non-corner area of the vertebral body, excluding the basi-vertebral vein area. The entire process can be completed in 8 minutes. This method is reliable, seems sensitive to change and compares to clinical assessment more favorably than subjective assessment.