Bone mineral content and soft-tissue assessment in limb segments by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry: optimal scan...

The aim of this study was to define the best scanning parameters to assess bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in specific dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) applications, such as those encountered in orthopedics for the measurements of the peripheral skeleton. To simulate soft tissues and bones in a limb, we used simple phantoms made with plastic bottles (500 mL and 1500 mL) filled with tap water and cylinders of hydroxyapatite (HAP) powder set in a polymer at various concentrations (range, 0.150-1.500 g HAP/cm3). Data obtained from 204 measurements of these phantoms with different scanning speeds and pixel sizes showed that the best compromise for obtaining precise measurements in the shortest scan time was a scanning speed of 50 mm/s and a pixel size of 1.5 mm x 1.5 mm.