Project 460681

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common condition that can result in the presence of bone erosions, or holes within the bone, due to swelling in the joints. These erosions can lead to lower bone quality and poorer quality-of-life. Doctors rely on the ability to identify and measure the size of these bone erosions to understand the disease course and monitor treatment success. However, the early detection of bone erosions and quickly measuring their size is difficult. Recent innovations in bone research have led to high-resolution imaging techniques. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) allows for detailed visualization and measurements of bone erosions. Additionally, the international consortium SPECTRA (Study group for xtrEme Computed Tomography in Rheumatoid Arthritis) outlined a definition for the more accurate identification of bone erosions on HR-pQCT data. Despite these developments, identifying and measuring bone erosions remains a time-intensive process, requiring trained personnel. Analysis approaches that currently exist are challenging for new users to access and use. To address these limitations, we propose several objectives to encourage more and efficient research with HR-pQCT and bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis. 1) We will develop a repository to store information about HR-pQCT images obtained from research groups around the world. This will allow easier access to data to test new analysis tools. 2) We will generate a gold standard dataset where erosions have been identified and measured by expert reviewers. This dataset can then be used for comparison with new automatic analysis tools. 3) We will create an interactive training tool for new users to accurately identify and measure bone erosions from HR-pQCT data. Together, these objectives will help us develop better tools to share images and knowledge with research groups around the world.