title: Global and regional variations in the spinal trabecular bone: single and dual energy examinations.
abstract: Two hundred and sixty-eight vertebrae from 92 subjects (42 males and 50 females) were used to assess inter- and intravertebral variations in the mineral content of spinal trabecular bone from L1-L3. Using a computer-generated grid superimposed on the trabecular bone, the spatial distribution of the mineral content was computed for 48 subdivisions of the grid for single and dual energy computed tomographic examinations. In addition, the age dependence of the mineral content was assessed by regression analysis from each subdivision. The results demonstrated a nonhomogenous distribution of mineral density within the trabecular bone. The lateral and anterolateral subcortical regions show significantly lower mineral density than the posterolateral or anterior subcortical domains. Moreover, with increasing age, bone density was also lost in a nonuniform fashion. Finally, the analysis of regional intervertebral change for the L1-L3 vertebrae revealed a nonhomogeneous pattern of mineral distribution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sandor
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Felsenberg
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Kalender
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*