The relationship between calcium (water) density and age distribution in adult women with spectral CT: initial result compared to bone mineral density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

Abstract

Background Calcium (water) density (DCa(Wa)) of gemstone spectral imaging by spectral computed tomography (CT) is a new method of evaluating bone structures. Purpose To investigate age-related change of DCa(Wa) of a chosen lumbar vertebra in adult women with spectral CT and the correlation between the DCa(Wa) and bone mineral density (BMD) of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Material and Methods A total of 305 adult women underwent spectral CT, 127 of whom simultaneously underwent DXA. All the patients were divided into 11 subgroups based on age. DCa(Wa) and BMD were measured at the second lumbar vertebra on the calcium (water)-based material decomposition images of spectral CT and DXA, respectively. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed for the difference of the measurements among adjacent age subgroups. Pearson correlation was used to assess the association between age and DCa(Wa), age and BMD, as well as DCa(Wa) and BMD. Results There was a significant negative correlation between DCa(Wa) and age (r = −0.719) as well as BMD and age(r = −0.851). The mean DCa(Wa) of L2 vertebral body was significantly different between the 40–44- and 45–49-, 45–49- and 50–54-, 55–59- and 60–64-, 65–69- and 70–74-year-old age subgroups. BMD was significantly different between the 35–39- and 40–44-, 45–49- and 50–54-, and 65–69- and 70–74-year-old age subgroups. There was a significant positive correlation between DCa(Wa) and BMD. Conclusions The DCa(Wa) of lumbar vertebra by spectral CT demonstrated similar age distribution as BMD of DXA and could be used as a method of measuring the vertebral bone mineral density in adult women.

Opportunistic screening for osteoporosis using hydroxyapatite measurements of the vertebral by thorax dual-energy spectral CT in postmenopausal females

“…Some experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that the base substance density value can reflect the material content if the composition of the selected base material pairs is close to the actual material 21 , 22 . Dong Yue et al 23 studied the selection of calcium (water) substance pairs, indicating that calcium (water) density in the vertebral body decreases with age. There are complex components in cancellous bone that contain red marrow, yellow marrow, fat, water, and bone minerals, so the Ca(Wa) density obtained from the DECT-determined measurements might be affected by these factors, especially when the fat content of the cancellous bone increases with age.…”

The new fast kilovoltage-switching dual-energy computed tomography for measuring bone mineral density

“…Dong et al ( 19 ) and Wichmann et al ( 7 ) compared the performances of DECT and DXA for measuring BMD and concluded that DECT could be used to assess lumbar spine BMD. Another study reported that DECT showed more sensitivity to changes in BMD than did DXA and that the measurements of BMD using DECT and DXA were highly correlated ( 20 ).…”

Study on the scanning protocols for measuring bone mineral density by gemstone CT spectral imaging based on European spine phantom

“…Mei et al (22) used spectral CT with a double-layer detector to measure BMD of the model with an error in the range of −1.3% to 4.8%, showing good consistency and correlation with QCT measurements (r = 0.987). Shao and Liu (23) compared the association of sex and age with the GSI-measured Ca 2+ -water density, and Yue et al (24) investigate age-related change of Ca 2+ -water density of a chosen lumbar vertebra in adult women with spectral CT and the correlation between the Ca 2+ -water density and BMD of DXA. They all concluded that GSI could be used as a method of measuring the vertebral adult BMD.…”