Texture analysis in cone-beam computed tomographic images of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the trabecular bone through texture analysis and compare the texture analysis characteristics of different areas in patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). Materials and Methods: Cone-beam computed tomographic images of 16 patients diagnosed with MRONJ were used. In sagittal images, 3 regions were chosen: active osteonecrosis(AO); intermediate tissue (IT), which presented a zone of apparently healthy tissue adjacent to the AO area; and healthy bone tissue (HT) (control area). Texture analysis was performed evaluating 7 parameters: secondary angular momentum, contrast, correlation, sum of squares, inverse moment of difference, sum of entropies, and entropy. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test with a significance level of 5%. Results: Comparing the areas of AO, IT, and HT, significant differences (P