Clin Osteol 2026; 31(3): 149-152 | DOI: 10.36290/clo.2026.022

Artificial intelligence: an introduction and its applications in osteologyMain theme

David Zogala

Ústav nukleární medicíny 1. LF UK a VFN v Praze

Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare has moved from a research topic into routine clinical and administrative practice. This is not a new concept: medicine has used algorithms, scoring systems, expert rules and computer-assisted decision support for decades. What has changed, however, is the acceleration of computing power, the improved ability of deep neural networks to process images, and the emergence of large language models, which have made generative AI accessible to the general public without technical expertise. In osteology, AI is used mainly for automated analysis of imaging data, opportunistic screening for osteoporosis from CT and radiographic examinations, detection of vertebral fractures, estimation of bone mineral density outside conventional DXA, and prediction of fracture risk. However, AI-based tools usually represent the introduction of a new medical device and must therefore be approached as such, with the necessary processes in place: validation in the target population, clear definition of the indication, error control, continuous performance monitoring, data protection, and preservation of the physician's responsibility.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, osteoporosis, osteology, DXA, fracture prediction, vertebral fractures, medical device, large language models.

Accepted: September 15, 2026; Published: October 8, 2026  Show citation