Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2023 Aug;21(4):372-385. doi: 10.1007/s11914-023-00795-6. Epub 2023 Jun 2.
Rigid image registration is an important image processing tool for the assessment of musculoskeletal chronic disease. In this paper, we critically review applications of rigid image registration in terms of similarity measurement methods over the past three years (2019-2022) in the context of monitoring longitudinal changes to bone microstructure and mechanical properties using computed tomography. This review identifies critical assumptions and trade-offs underlying different similarity measurement methods used in image registration and demonstrates the effect of using different similarity measures on registration outcomes.
Image registration has been used in recent studies for: correcting positional shifts between longitudinal scans to quantify changes to bone microstructural and mechanical properties over time, developing registration-based workflows for longitudinal assessment of bone properties in pre-clinical and clinical studies, and developing and validating registration techniques for longitudinal studies. In evaluating the recent literature, it was found that the assumptions at the root of different similarity measures used in rigid image registration are not always confirmed and reported. Each similarity measurement has its advantages and disadvantages, as well as underlying assumptions. Breaking these assumptions can lead to poor and inaccurate registration results. Thus, care must be taken with regards to the choice of similarity measurement and interpretation of results. We propose that understanding and verifying the assumptions of similarity measurements will enable more accurate and efficient quantitative assessments of structural changes over time.
刚性图像配准是评估肌肉骨骼慢性疾病的重要图像处理工具。本文在使用计算机断层扫描监测骨微观结构和机械性能的纵向变化的背景下，从相似性测量方法的角度，批判性地回顾了刚性图像配准在过去三年（2019-2022 年）中的应用。本综述确定了在图像配准中使用的不同相似性测量方法所依据的关键假设和权衡，并展示了使用不同相似性度量对配准结果的影响。
在最近的研究中，图像配准已被用于：纠正纵向扫描之间的位置偏移，以随时间量化骨微结构和机械性能的变化；为临床前和临床研究中骨性质的纵向评估开发基于配准的工作流程；以及开发和验证用于纵向研究的配准技术。在评估最近的文献时，发现刚性图像配准中使用的不同相似性测量方法的基本假设并不总是得到确认和报告。每种相似性度量都有其优点和缺点，以及潜在的假设。打破这些假设会导致配准结果不佳和不准确。因此，在选择相似性度量和解释结果时必须谨慎。我们建议，了解和验证相似性度量的假设将能够更准确和有效地评估随时间的结构变化。
