Open-Source Image Analysis Software Yields Reproducible CT Measures of Longissimus Muscle Area and Density in Sheep.

Longissimus muscles (LM) in sheep are important for animal scientists who study meat quality and translational researchers who study thoracolumbar spinal disease. Computed tomography (CT) is an established technique for characterizing paraspinal muscles in sheep; however, studies reporting reproducibility of CT measures using open-source software are lacking. The objectives of this prospective pilot study were to develop a standardized protocol for measuring LM area and density in sheep using CT and to determine the reproducibility for measurements.