Evaluation of the bias on X-ray Absorptiometry and Quantitative Ultrasound Measurements due to Bone-Seeking Elements

Authors

  • Deok Hyun Jang Department of Physics, Ryerson University
  • Eric Da Silva Department of Physics, Ryerson University
  • Jahan Tavakkoli Department of Physics, Ryerson University
  • Luba Slatkovska <p>Centre of Excellence in Skeletal Health Assessment, Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto / Osteoporosis Program, University Health Network</p>
  • Angela Man-Wei Cheung <p>Centre of Excellence in Skeletal Health Assessment, Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto / Osteoporosis Program, University Health Network</p>
  • Ana Pejovic-Milic Department of Physics, Ryerson University

Abstract

The current clinical gold standard for assessing bone mineral density (BMD) is by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), which estimates areal BMD (aBMD).  The substitution of bone-seeking elements such as strontium, lead and aluminum in bone mineral alters the photon attenuation properties of bone, and therefore can cause biases in aBMD when estimated by DXA.  Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) is an alternative bone densitometry technique based on the measurement of broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and speed of sound (SOS).  Derived quantity known as the stiffness index (SI) is calculated based on the two ultrasonic parameters, and is then converted to an estimated aBMD.  This study aimed to evaluate the effect of strontium, lead and aluminum on DXA and QUS measurements using bone-mimicking phantoms.

To prepare the phantoms, hydroxyapatite compounds that contain varying concentrations of the three elements were set in gelatin as to have a uniform volumetric BMD (vBMD) of 200 mg/cm3.  A Hologic Horizon® DXA device and a Hologic Sahara® QUS device were used to estimate aBMDs in the phantoms.

aBMD measured by DXA exhibited a strong linear relationship (r = 0.995, p < 0.001) with strontium concentration.  No statistically significant relationship (p > 0.05) was found between aBMD and concentrations of lead or aluminum under 200 ppm examined in this study.  In the case of QUS, BUA was found to vary linearly with lead concentration (r = 0.899, p < 0.038), but it showed no statistically significant association with strontium and aluminum.  Furthermore, no statistically significant changes were observed for SOS and SI, as a function of the concentration of the three elements.  This result suggests that, unlike DXA, the QUS is capable of assessing bone density independently of strontium substitution.  Furthermore, clinically relevant concentration of lead and aluminum does not seem to influence DXA and QUS measurements.

Additional Files

Published

2017-08-19

How to Cite

1.
Jang DH, Da Silva E, Tavakkoli J, Slatkovska L, Cheung AM-W, Pejovic-Milic A. Evaluation of the bias on X-ray Absorptiometry and Quantitative Ultrasound Measurements due to Bone-Seeking Elements. Canadian Acoustics [Internet]. 2017 Aug. 19 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];45(3):92-3. Available from: https://jcaa.caa-aca.ca/index.php/jcaa/article/view/3124

Issue

Section

Proceedings of the Acoustics Week in Canada

Most read articles by the same author(s)