Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) in 12- and 24-month-old children - Practical aspects and
Saara Valkama1, Elisa Holmlund-Suila1, Alex Ireland2
1Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Research Program for Clinical and Molecular Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Bone
|October 2, 2020
Summary
Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) provides detailed bone data in infants. This study offers reference data and a quality grading system for pQCT scans in healthy children aged 12 and 24 months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Bone Health
- Medical Imaging Technology
- Infant Physiology
Background:
- Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) is valuable for assessing bone characteristics.
- Its application in infants is hindered by a lack of reference data and technical difficulties.
- Establishing normative data and quality standards is crucial for infant bone research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish length- and weight-adjusted pQCT reference data for healthy infants.
- To introduce a quality grading system for pQCT scans in children aged 12 and 24 months.
- To evaluate the impact of scan quality on bone parameter measurements.
Main Methods:
- pQCT and anthropometric data were collected from 855 infants at 12 months and 784 at 24 months as part of the VIDI trial.
- Bone mineral content (BMC), volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), cross-sectional area (CSA), polar-moment of inertia (PMI), and periosteal circumference (PsC) were measured at the distal tibia.
- Scan quality was assessed using a 5-grade system, and its impact on bone parameters was analyzed alongside age, sex, weight, and length.
Main Results:
- A significant proportion of scans (79% at 12 months, 90% at 24 months) met quality criteria, with 39% and 51% being good/excellent quality, respectively.
- Scan quality impacted BMC but not other bone parameters. Boys had higher BMC, CSA, PMI, and PsC, but similar vBMDs compared to girls.
- All bone parameters increased significantly between 12 and 24 months. Sex-based differences in bone parameters disappeared when adjusted for weight, length, and scan quality, with weight being the strongest modifier.
Conclusions:
- This study provides valuable pQCT reference data and a quality grading system for infant bone research.
- pQCT is a suitable tool for assessing bone characteristics in young children.
- The findings enhance understanding of pediatric bone development and inform reliable data interpretation in research settings.
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