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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #134640
Title: PRECISION OF SINGLE VERSUS BILATERAL HIP BONE MINERAL DENSITY SCANS

Author
item WHITE, JENNIFER - HNRCA
item HARRIS, SUSAN - HNRCA
item DALLAL, GERARD - HNRCA
item DAWSON-HUGHES, BESS - HNRCA

Submitted to: Journal of Clinical Densitometry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2002
Publication Date: 7/1/2003
Citation: WHITE, J., HARRIS, S.S., DALLAL, G.E., DAWSON-HUGHES, B. PRECISION OF SINGLE VERSUS BILATERAL HIP BONE MINERAL DENSITY SCANS. Journal of Clinical Densitometry. 2003;6(2):159-162.

Interpretive Summary: This study was performed to determine and compare the precision of single and bilateral hipbone mineral density (BMD) measurements and to determine the precision of spinal and total body measurements by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Precision (% coefficient of variation, %CV) was determined in 6 subjects scanned six times each at the spine, both hips, and total body, with repositioning after each scan. Mean %CVs in BMD for single and bilateral hip scans were: 0.70% and 0.57% for the total hip (P=0.028), 1.37% and 0.88% for the trochanter (P=0.028), and 1.38% and 1.00% for the femoral neck (P=0.075), respectively. Mean %CV was 0.99% for spine BMD (L2-L4), 0.65% for total body BMD, 1.04% for total body bone mineral content, 1.14% for total body fat tissue and 0.74% for total body nonfat soft tissue. We conclude that precision is improved with bilateral hip BMD scans compared with the traditional single hip scans.

Technical Abstract: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans of the hip and lumbar spine are currently the "gold standard" for measurement of bone mineral density (BMD). DXA allows swift, noninvasive measurements with minimal radiation for both clinical practice and research. Traditional testing has used results of single hip scans, but software has recently become available that combines the results of bilateral hip scans. The intent of this study is to determine and compare the precision of single (left) and bilateral hip BMD measurements and to assess the precision of spine and total body measurements made with a GE-Lunar Prodigy. Six white postmenopausal women had DXA scans of the hip (left and right), lumbar spine (L2-L4), and total body performed six times each. It was found that precision of bilateral hip measurements was 19% to 36% better than the precision of single hip measurements. Improved precision with bilateral hip scans would benefit patient management by detecting smaller changes over time, as well as giving the option of continued scanning, should the patient fracture or have surgery on a previously scanned hip. In clinical trials, considerable savings in study time and cost could be realized by reducing the loss of data in subjects who have hip injuries during a trial. In conclusion, performance of bilateral rather than single scans significantly improves precision of hip BMD measurements.