Assessment of the bone mineral density in the lumbar vertebrae of newborns by quantitative computed tomography

Abstract

In the range of values studied, the vertebral densities were not dependent on birth weight. BMD values measured in L2, L3 and L4 were not significantly different, but were 10% lower than in L1 in four of five infants. The spatial resolution of the QCT protocol used (0.4 mm) did not permit the differentiation of trabecular and cortical bone, and the vertebral bodies appeared very homogeneous and dense, with a mean density value of 210 +/- 30 mg Ca/cm3, which is 2.5 times higher than the mean maximum value found in young normal adults. These preliminary results highlight the potential of QCT in neonatology. Special protocols will, however, need to be developed for in vivo measurements in this particular paediatric field.

Accuracy of microCT in the quantitative determination of the degree and distribution of mineralization in developing bone

“…These errors remained substantial, especially where higher bone mineral densities were concerned. As the degree of mineralization in adult bone often exceeds 1250 mg/cm 3 (15), errors larger than 20% can be expected despite application of the correction algorithm. Moreover, specimens with high mineralization densities may be impenetrable to low energy radiation and thus require high energy application, which in turn causes a further decrease in accuracy.…”

Methods for Measuring Body Composition in Newborns - A Comparative Analysis

“…However, the investigation of postmortem neonates is possible and could provide new information on body composition as well as on true bone mineral density 63 . Owing to the high doses of radiation involved, this technique has not, so far, been used in newborns.…”

Rietveld Refinement on X-Ray Diffraction Patterns of Bioapatite in Human Fetal Bones

“…These stages are essential in determining the quality of the adult bone; however, several questions about the processes that are related to the evolution and growth of bone mineral during ossification still remain unanswered. Various techniques such as x-ray radiography (Bagnall et al, 1977;Bareggi et al, 1993), histology (Gray et al, 1995, Nobackar andRobertson, 1951), sonography (Filly et al, 1987;Budorick et al, 1991;Wallny et al, 1999), dual-energy absorptiometry (Panattoni et al, 1995;Braillon et al, 1992), and computed tomography (Braillon et al, 1996) have been employed to investigate the morphological development of bone and its mineral density during fetal growth. Complementary techniques such as XRD (Germine and Parsons, 1988;Bigi et al, 1997) and x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS;Miller et al, 1981) have been used to describe the crystalline structure of mineralized bone tissue.…”