Bone Mineral Density

Bone mineral density (BMD) is a crucial indicator of bone health, with low BMD signifying osteoporosis and increased fracture risk. Current research focuses on developing accurate and accessible BMD estimation methods, leveraging machine learning techniques like deep learning (including convolutional neural networks and vision transformers), generative adversarial networks (GANs), and robust kernel machine regression, often applied to readily available imaging data such as X-rays and even repurposing existing chest X-rays. These advancements aim to improve early osteoporosis diagnosis and risk prediction, potentially leading to more timely interventions and improved patient outcomes, particularly in settings with limited access to gold-standard BMD assessment methods like DXA. The development of more robust and efficient algorithms for BMD estimation from various imaging modalities is a key area of ongoing investigation.