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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #161599
Title: PRECISION OF BONE MINERAL DENSITY SCANS AT THE PROXIMAL TIBIA

Author
item VAZQUEZ, EDWARD - TUFTS-HNRCA
item SONG, LINGYI - TUFTS-HNRCA
item DAWSON-HUGHES, BESS - TUFTS-HNRCA

Submitted to: Journal of Clinical Densitometry
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/19/2003
Publication Date: 1/26/2004
Citation: Vazquez, E., Song, L., Dawson-Hughes, B. 2004. Precision of bone mineral density scans at the proximal tibia [abstract]. Journal of Clinical Densitometry. 7:222.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Clinicians rely on knowledge of instrument precision to determine whether a measured change in bone mineral density (BMD) indicates a significant change in that patient's BMD. Precision errors result from improper positioning, inconsistent analysis, and short and long-term instability in densitometry equipment. Precision may also be affected by scan mode attributes. Faster scans may exhibit somewhat lower precision due to differences in photon flux or pixel size. In this study, we compared BMD and precision of two scan modes on the Lunar Prodigy (GE Medical Systems). A total of 60 women aged 50 to 78 years (mean age 59.8; SD 8.5 yrs) were measured at the spine and both femora with the Prodigy. Each subject was measured twice using the standard 30-second scan mode, and twice using the 10-second QuickView mode, with repositioning between each scan. Precision for the 10-second mode ranged from 0.8% for bilateral total femur to 1.8% for single femur neck, compared with 0.5% and 1.3% for corresponding precision with standard (30-second) mode. Spine precision with the 10-second mode was equivalent to standard mode, and femur precision error was 1% or lower for total femur and only modestly higher than Standard mode at other sites. QuickView BMD results were virtually identical to those measured with Standard mode. This means greater efficiency for the technician with little or no decrease in the quality of the scan.