The study of image stitching of long-length spine radiography using image composite editor program

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate a method for image stitching of long-length spine radiography. The image composite editor program was used to stitch the scoliotic whole-spine radiographic imaging. The original spine radiographs were divided into two parts and processed by 4 methods including the auto detection, planar motion, planar motion with perspective, and planar motion with skew functions, respectively. The resulted images were quantitatively assessed by using the profile plot value, and qualitatively analyzed by 3 imaging technologists who have at least 5 years of working experience. The quantitative resulted in normal spine radiograph, the planar motion with perspective was stitch with less distortion. For scoliotic assessment showing, mild scoliosis, the processed images were not distorted. For the moderate group (42-45° angle of spine), the planar motion with perspective and the planar with skew were the least distortions. For the moderate group (31-39° angle of spine), the planar motion with perspective and the planar motion provided smallest distortion. For the severe group, the planar motion was the best method with less distortion. For qualitative analysis, both normal spine and scoliotic radiograph were stitched. The moderate consistency of image quality assessed by three imaging technologists in the groups of normal radiographs was obtained. Scoliotic radiograph stitching group provided good consistency. The image composite editor program can be used to stitch both normal and scoliotic radiographs.