Improving the Age Estimation Efficiency by Calculation of the Area Ratio Index Using Semi-Automatic Segmentation of Knee MRI Images
The knee is an anatomical structure that can provide a great deal of data for research on age estimation. The aim of this study was to evaluate and apply a method for semi-automatic measurements of the area under the growth plate closure of the femur distal epiphysis and the growth plate closure its...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-07-01
|
| Series: | Biomedicines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/7/2046 |
| _version_ | 1797590089092562944 |
|---|---|
| author | Tatjana Matijaš Ana Pinjuh Krešimir Dolić Darijo Radović Tea Galić Dunja Božić Štulić Frane Mihanović |
| author_facet | Tatjana Matijaš Ana Pinjuh Krešimir Dolić Darijo Radović Tea Galić Dunja Božić Štulić Frane Mihanović |
| author_sort | Tatjana Matijaš |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The knee is an anatomical structure that can provide a great deal of data for research on age estimation. The aim of this study was to evaluate and apply a method for semi-automatic measurements of the area under the growth plate closure of the femur distal epiphysis and the growth plate closure itself on the 2D coronary slices using T2 weighted images (T2WI) generated on magnetic resonance (MRI) devices of different technical and technological characteristics. After the semi-automatic segmentation of the femur distal epiphysis under the growth plate closure and the growth plate closure itself, the areas of the measured closures were calculated using MATLAB version: 9.12. (R2022a), MathWorks Inc., Natick, MA, USA, for each individual coronal slice. The area ratio index (ARI) was calculated as the ratio between the area under the growth plate closure of the femur distal epiphysis and the growth plate closure itself. The study sample consisted of 27 female and 23 male Caucasian participants aged 10 to 26 years. A total of 339 T2WI images were used for ARI calculations. There was a positive correlation between chronological age and the average ARI measured by three independent observers (r = 0.8280, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis did not show any significant impact of the technical and technological characteristics of the MRI devices on ARI. The results of this study showed that ARI could serve as a useful tool for age estimation using knee MRI as well as for the further development of artificial intelligence (AI) applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:16:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-475d5ce57cc5428b9af59823a016fc17 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:16:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj.art-475d5ce57cc5428b9af59823a016fc172023-11-18T18:28:42ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592023-07-01117204610.3390/biomedicines11072046Improving the Age Estimation Efficiency by Calculation of the Area Ratio Index Using Semi-Automatic Segmentation of Knee MRI ImagesTatjana Matijaš0Ana Pinjuh1Krešimir Dolić2Darijo Radović3Tea Galić4Dunja Božić Štulić5Frane Mihanović6University Department of Health Studies, University of Split, 21000 Split, CroatiaFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, Computing and Electrical Engineering, University of Mostar, 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and HerzegovinaUniversity Department of Health Studies, University of Split, 21000 Split, CroatiaUniversity Department of Health Studies, University of Split, 21000 Split, CroatiaDepartment of Prosthodontics, Study of Dental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, CroatiaFaculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (FESB), University of Split, 21000 Split, CroatiaUniversity Department of Health Studies, University of Split, 21000 Split, CroatiaThe knee is an anatomical structure that can provide a great deal of data for research on age estimation. The aim of this study was to evaluate and apply a method for semi-automatic measurements of the area under the growth plate closure of the femur distal epiphysis and the growth plate closure itself on the 2D coronary slices using T2 weighted images (T2WI) generated on magnetic resonance (MRI) devices of different technical and technological characteristics. After the semi-automatic segmentation of the femur distal epiphysis under the growth plate closure and the growth plate closure itself, the areas of the measured closures were calculated using MATLAB version: 9.12. (R2022a), MathWorks Inc., Natick, MA, USA, for each individual coronal slice. The area ratio index (ARI) was calculated as the ratio between the area under the growth plate closure of the femur distal epiphysis and the growth plate closure itself. The study sample consisted of 27 female and 23 male Caucasian participants aged 10 to 26 years. A total of 339 T2WI images were used for ARI calculations. There was a positive correlation between chronological age and the average ARI measured by three independent observers (r = 0.8280, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis did not show any significant impact of the technical and technological characteristics of the MRI devices on ARI. The results of this study showed that ARI could serve as a useful tool for age estimation using knee MRI as well as for the further development of artificial intelligence (AI) applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/7/2046magnetic resonance imagingknee jointossifying epiphysesage estimationfemursegmentation |
| spellingShingle | Tatjana Matijaš Ana Pinjuh Krešimir Dolić Darijo Radović Tea Galić Dunja Božić Štulić Frane Mihanović Improving the Age Estimation Efficiency by Calculation of the Area Ratio Index Using Semi-Automatic Segmentation of Knee MRI Images Biomedicines magnetic resonance imaging knee joint ossifying epiphyses age estimation femur segmentation |
| title | Improving the Age Estimation Efficiency by Calculation of the Area Ratio Index Using Semi-Automatic Segmentation of Knee MRI Images |
| title_full | Improving the Age Estimation Efficiency by Calculation of the Area Ratio Index Using Semi-Automatic Segmentation of Knee MRI Images |
| title_fullStr | Improving the Age Estimation Efficiency by Calculation of the Area Ratio Index Using Semi-Automatic Segmentation of Knee MRI Images |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving the Age Estimation Efficiency by Calculation of the Area Ratio Index Using Semi-Automatic Segmentation of Knee MRI Images |
| title_short | Improving the Age Estimation Efficiency by Calculation of the Area Ratio Index Using Semi-Automatic Segmentation of Knee MRI Images |
| title_sort | improving the age estimation efficiency by calculation of the area ratio index using semi automatic segmentation of knee mri images |
| topic | magnetic resonance imaging knee joint ossifying epiphyses age estimation femur segmentation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/7/2046 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tatjanamatijas improvingtheageestimationefficiencybycalculationofthearearatioindexusingsemiautomaticsegmentationofkneemriimages AT anapinjuh improvingtheageestimationefficiencybycalculationofthearearatioindexusingsemiautomaticsegmentationofkneemriimages AT kresimirdolic improvingtheageestimationefficiencybycalculationofthearearatioindexusingsemiautomaticsegmentationofkneemriimages AT darijoradovic improvingtheageestimationefficiencybycalculationofthearearatioindexusingsemiautomaticsegmentationofkneemriimages AT teagalic improvingtheageestimationefficiencybycalculationofthearearatioindexusingsemiautomaticsegmentationofkneemriimages AT dunjabozicstulic improvingtheageestimationefficiencybycalculationofthearearatioindexusingsemiautomaticsegmentationofkneemriimages AT franemihanovic improvingtheageestimationefficiencybycalculationofthearearatioindexusingsemiautomaticsegmentationofkneemriimages |