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Comparison of bone mineral density in both hips
J Balseiro1, F H Fahey, H A Ziessman
1Division of Nuclear Medicine, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC 20007.
Radiology
|April 1, 1988
Summary
Dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA) cannot reliably predict bone mineral density (BMD) in one hip from the other. Differences in BMD between hips are real, limiting clinical prediction accuracy for osteoporosis trends.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Radiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Bone mineral density (BMD) assessment is crucial for diagnosing osteoporosis.
- Dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA) is a common technique for measuring BMD.
- Assessing BMD in one hip to predict the contralateral hip's BMD could streamline patient monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the predictive accuracy of bone mineral density (BMD) measurements between contralateral hips using dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA).
Main Methods:
- DPA scans were performed on both hips of 40 patients.
- Linear regression analysis was used to correlate BMD measurements between hips.
- Interobserver variability was assessed to determine measurement precision.
Main Results:
- High correlation coefficients (0.843–0.920) were observed between BMDs of the two hips.
- Relative error in prediction increased with lower BMD values, reaching 17% for low BMD.
- Asymmetry in BMD was significant, exceeding instrument precision by 2.5 times in mild-to-moderate osteoporosis.
Conclusions:
- BMD measurements between contralateral hips exhibit significant asymmetry.
- The BMD of one hip cannot be accurately predicted from the other to identify clinically relevant trends.
- DPA measurements of one hip are insufficient for predicting the BMD of the opposite hip.