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The Tromsø Study: artifacts in forearm bone densitometry--prevalence and effect.
G K Berntsen1, A Tollan, J H Magnus
1Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, 9037 Tromsø, Norway.
Summary
Artifacts in forearm bone densitometry are common, impacting bone mineral density (BMD) measurements. These errors, often due to patient movement, significantly affect osteoporosis diagnosis and patient management.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Radiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Suboptimal performance in bone densitometry can lead to artifacts affecting patient management and research.
- The prevalence and impact of these artifacts in densitometry are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and effects of artifacts in forearm bone densitometry using single X-ray Absorptiometry (SXA).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, population-based study analyzed forearm SXA scans from the Tromso health study (n=7948).
- Scans were reviewed for artifacts, and their impact on bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed through reanalysis.
Main Results:
- Fourteen percent of subjects exhibited movement artifacts.
- Artifacts doubled individual BMD variation (0.94% vs. 0.58%).
- Inaccurate radial endplate detection (74% of scans) led to a 3.8% BMD decrease and a 10% increase in osteoporosis prevalence upon reanalysis.
Conclusions:
- Artifacts are common in forearm bone densitometry and have clinically relevant effects.
- Characterizing artifacts is crucial for accurate BMD assessment and osteoporosis diagnosis.
- Further research is needed to understand artifact prevalence in other densitometry settings.