Model-based approaches for quantitative dual-energy cone-beam CT

Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone marrow edema (BME) are key biomarkers for early detection of musculoskeletal diseases (e.g., osteoarthritis), occult traumas and fracture non-unions. State-of-the-art methods for quantifying these biomarkers (e.g., biopsy, MRI, dual-energy (DE) CT) are limited by the cost, lengthy examination, radiation dose, and potential contraindications (e.g., metal implants). We present the current efforts in enabling BMD and BME quantification on a dedicated, point-of-care extremity cone-beam CT (CBCT). A unique multi-source hardware design of the system enables single-scan DE imaging (100 mg/mL BMD and is able to detect >8 mL increase in trabecular BME volume with <10% error.