AI System Estimates Bone Mineral Density from X-rays, Improves Osteoporosis Detection
July 9, 2025
Researchers have developed an AI-based system to estimate bone mineral density from lumbar and femur X-rays for early osteoporosis detection.
Key Details
- AI system analyzes lumbar spine and femur bone mineral density from X-ray images.
- Study examined 1,454 X-ray images using the AI tool.
- Sensitivity for detecting osteopenia: 86.4% (lumbar), 84.1% (femur).
- Specificity for detecting osteopenia: 80.4% (lumbar), 76.3% (femur).
- System also demonstrated high accuracy for detecting osteoporosis.
- Potential for opportunistic and widespread clinical screening using routine X-rays.
Why It Matters
This AI system could enable more efficient and accessible osteoporosis screening by leveraging existing X-ray infrastructure, addressing unmet diagnostic needs globally and potentially reducing undiagnosed cases.