Phantom-less QCT BMD system as screening tool for osteoporosis without additional radiation

• Published in: European journal of radiology Vol. 79; no. 3; pp. 375 - 381
• Main Authors: Mueller, Dirk K, Kutscherenko, Alex, Bartel, Hans, Vlassenbroek, Alain, Ourednicek, Petr, Erckenbrecht, Joachim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-09-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Bone Density; Bone mineral density; Contrast Media; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Osteoarticular system. Muscles; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis - diagnostic imaging; Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia. Paget disease; Phantom-less; Phantoms, Imaging; Quantitative computed tomography; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Radiology; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; Screening; Spine; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; Osteoporosis; Screening; Phantom-less; Bone mineral density; Quantitative computed tomography; Spine; Radiodiagnosis; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Medical screening; Osteoarticular system; Medical imagery; Computerized axial tomography; Test object
• ISSN: 0720-048X; 1872-7727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2010.02.008

Abstract Purpose Phantom-less bone mineral density (PLBMD) systems are easily integrated into the CT workflow for non-dedicated Quantitative CT (QCT) BMD measurements in thoracic and abdominal scans. This in vivo retrospective study aims to determine accuracy and precision of the PLBMD option located on the Extended Brilliance Workspace (Philips Medical Systems, Cleveland, OH, US) from both cross-sectional and longitudinal image data. Materials and methods The cross-sectional comparison with phantom-based QCT BMD was performed for 82 patients (61 female, 21 male) with a mean age of (63.0 ± 11.8 SD) years on 197 vertebrae. This was followed by an interobserver variability analysis on 71 vertebrae. The longitudinal PLBMD study was carried out on 45 vertebrae from 10 patients (5 female, 5 male) with a mean age of (64.4 ± 11.5 SD) years. They were re-scanned with standardized scan and contrast-injection protocols within a mean and median of (33 ± 41 SD) and 8 days, respectively. All CT scans were acquired on an Mx8000 Quad (Philips) at Florence-Nightingale Hospital, Kaiserswerth, Germany, in a spiral acquisition mode. Results A negligible BMD bias of −0.9 mg/cm3 for the PLBMD option was observed with respect to phantom-based QCT BMD. Applying CT number matching of muscle and fat ROIs, the analysis of cross-sectional interobserver and of longitudinal variability yielded precision values of 3.1 mg/cm3 (CV% = 4.0) and 4.2 mg/cm3 (CV% = 5.3), respectively. Conclusion Although the precision is inferior to phantom-based BMD systems, PLBMD is a robust clinical utility for the detection of lowered BMD in a large patient population. This can be achieved without additional radiation exposure from non-contrasted CT scans, to perform an ancillary diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis.