We have located links that may give you full text access.
Normative Bone Mineral Density Measured on CT scan in Children and Adolescents.
Spine 2023 March 23
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review.
OBJECTIVE: To provide reference values for HU measured on CT scan of children and adolescents.
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spine surgeons increasingly use Hounsfield Units (HU) on spine CT as a measure of bone mineral density (BMD). This has not been described in children and adolescents.
METHODS: Pediatric patients who had a spine CT between 2012 and 2022 were identified. Patients who had more than one comorbidity or were syndromic were excluded. Using the bone window, three axial images (cephalad, middle and caudal) of each vertebra were selected. In each axial view, the HU was measured using a Region of Interest (ROI) that included the total cancellous bone area and an ROI excluding the radiolucency present in the posterior vertebral body (Total vs. Limited). HU values were compared between Total and Limited areas, and between the axial images at the cephalad, middle, and caudal levels. Each age category data was estimated and stratified.
RESULTS: A total of 144 patients (79 female, 65 male) from 2 to 17 years old were included. Mean Limited HU was consistently lower than Total HU across all images and lumbar levels except for L1. Limited HU taken mid-vertebral body was also consistently lower than those taken cephalad or caudad. Mean Limited HU across all ages including all levels was 227±50 (range: 109 to 357). Stratifying by age showed a gradual decrease in BMD from age 2 to 10 followed by an increase.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to measure HU on lumbar CTs in children and adolescents. The technique of measuring BMD in adults should be modified in children by using an ROI that excludes the rarefaction present in the posterior vertebral body. Further studies are needed to evaluate the age dependent changes in BMD seen in this study.
OBJECTIVE: To provide reference values for HU measured on CT scan of children and adolescents.
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spine surgeons increasingly use Hounsfield Units (HU) on spine CT as a measure of bone mineral density (BMD). This has not been described in children and adolescents.
METHODS: Pediatric patients who had a spine CT between 2012 and 2022 were identified. Patients who had more than one comorbidity or were syndromic were excluded. Using the bone window, three axial images (cephalad, middle and caudal) of each vertebra were selected. In each axial view, the HU was measured using a Region of Interest (ROI) that included the total cancellous bone area and an ROI excluding the radiolucency present in the posterior vertebral body (Total vs. Limited). HU values were compared between Total and Limited areas, and between the axial images at the cephalad, middle, and caudal levels. Each age category data was estimated and stratified.
RESULTS: A total of 144 patients (79 female, 65 male) from 2 to 17 years old were included. Mean Limited HU was consistently lower than Total HU across all images and lumbar levels except for L1. Limited HU taken mid-vertebral body was also consistently lower than those taken cephalad or caudad. Mean Limited HU across all ages including all levels was 227±50 (range: 109 to 357). Stratifying by age showed a gradual decrease in BMD from age 2 to 10 followed by an increase.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to measure HU on lumbar CTs in children and adolescents. The technique of measuring BMD in adults should be modified in children by using an ROI that excludes the rarefaction present in the posterior vertebral body. Further studies are needed to evaluate the age dependent changes in BMD seen in this study.
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment.Clinical Research in Cardiology : Official Journal of the German Cardiac Society 2024 April 12
Proximal versus distal diuretics in congestive heart failure.Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation 2024 Februrary 30
Efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy in chronic insomnia: A review of clinical guidelines and case reports.Mental Health Clinician 2023 October
World Health Organization and International Consensus Classification of eosinophilic disorders: 2024 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management.American Journal of Hematology 2024 March 30
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app