Contour and Angle-Function Based Scoliosis Monitoring: Relaxing the Requirement on Image Quality in the Measurement of Spinal Curvature.

Purpose: A method for measuring spinal curvature that provides a useful analog to the Cobb angle and is tolerant of degraded image quality is proposed. Conventional methods require a higher standard of discernibility for vertebra features and suffer high variability.

Methods: Assumption is made that the natural representation of the spine for the purpose of scoliosis monitoring is that of a continuous curved contour rather than a series of discrete vertebral bodies with individual orientations.

Computer Assisted Cobb Angle Measurements: A novel algorithm.

Background: The standard for evaluating scoliosis is PA radiographs using Cobb angle to measure curve magnitude. Newer PACS systems allow easier Cobb angle calculations, but have not improved inter/intra observer precision of measurement. Cobb angle and its progression are important to determine treatment; therefore, angle variability is not optimal.