Technetium-99m scan images: software for image analysis and interpretation

Technetium scan images of bone for 10 patients are analysed. The images are taken wherein both the healthy bone and its corresponding other contiguous bone are taken together to study the abnormalities present within a bone, which are complements of each other. The Siemen´s gamma camera scans the skeletal parts after injecting the Technetium-99 ^m methylene diphosphonate isotope intravenously. Bone-scan images are available in X-ray radiograph mode only and they do not provide the relevant software for image analysis and interpretation as a public domain material. An attempt is made to develop the requisite software for image analysis and interpretation of bone scan images. This is being done to the provide an advisory system and to help in the diagnosis of bone disorders by nuclear medical specialists. The X-ray radiographs are digitized by using a Pullinix camera. Digitization is helpful in segmentation, to draw the profiles in horizontal and in vertical forms of the image, and for the study of local variability of the absorption of technetium in the bone. For this purpose, the software developed in the PC environment is less costly and can be made available in a number of diagnostic centres