Masters Theses

Abstract

"Radiographs of the spine provide a practical approach for detecting and assessing vertebral abnormalities that may be related to osteoarthritis or osteoporosis. There are several difficulties in manual and computer-based analysis of radiographs or x-rays, including poor contrast and the presence of noise. In this research, localized image analysis techniques are explored for enhancing the lumbar and cervical spine x-ray images. The enhancement techniques examined integrate grayscale characteristics and frequency component analysis over a user-selected region of interest in an x-ray image. The image enhancement techniques provide the basis for vertebra segmentation and the extraction and evaluation of key vertebra features. The image enhancement techniques are presented with examples for cervical and lumbar spine x-ray images.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting synovial joints of the body, especially the hands and feet, spine, knees and hips. For many patients, the cervical spine is associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Subluxation is the abnormal movement of one of the bones that comprise a joint. In this research, image analysis techniques have been investigated for the recognition of cervical spine x-ray images with one or more instances of subaxial subluxation. Receiver operating characteristic curve results are presented, showing potential for subaxial subluxation discrimination on an image-by-image basis"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Stanley, R. Joe

Committee Member(s)

Moss, Randy Hays, 1953-
Beetner, Daryl G.

Department(s)

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Electrical Engineering

Publisher

University of Missouri--Rolla

Publication Date

Spring 2005

Pagination

vi, 41 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 38-40).

Rights

© 2005 Santhosh Seetharaman, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Image processing -- Digital techniquesCervical vertebrae -- Abnormalities -- DiagnosisSpine -- Radiography

Thesis Number

T 8764

Print OCLC #

71201696

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