The contribution of Micro-CT to the evaluation of trabecular bone at the posterior part of the auricular surface in men.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Using multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT), Barrier et al. described the disappearance at the posterior auricular surface of a "central line" (CL) and "juxtalinear cells" (JLCs) belonging to a trabecular bundle, and a trabecular density gradient around the CL that decreased with age. The aim of our study was to use micro-CT to test these findings, referring to the concept of Ascadi and Nemeskeri. METHODOLOGY: The coxal bones of fifteen males were used; age was known. CLs were identified on MSCT-sections using Barrier's method (64 detectors, 0.6 mm slice thickness, 0.1 mm overlap) with two different software programs (Synapse®, Amira®). Then, CLs were researched on microCT slices (pixel size 36 µm). Three volumes of interest were defined (around, above, and below CL), and 3D morphometric parameters of the trabecular microarchitecture (particularly BV/TV and DA) were calculated. Two-tailed statistical analyses were performed attempting to correlate these parameters with age at death. RESULTS: CLs and JLCs were observed on micro-CT slices, but with moderate agreement between both imaging techniques. Their presence was not correlated with the age of the subjects. Around the CL, BV/TV decreased significantly with age; DA was negatively correlated with BV/TV and had a tendency to increase with age. Between areas above and below the CL, there was a BV/TV gradient and both BV/TVs decreased in parallel with age. CONCLUSION: Our findings regarding the contribution of micro-CT to the evaluation of trabecular bone could be a promising research approach for application in a larger study population.