title: Vertebral dimensions: influence of X-ray technique and patient size on measurements.
abstract: In this study a new reference value, "corrected vertebral dimension," is presented for vertebral height measurements. Of 68 females (age 18-88 years; mean 44.2 years) and 40 males (age 16-81 years; mean 55 years) the projected vertebral dimensions (T4-L5) were measured on lateral radiographs. In addition to this, the vertebra-to-film distances (VFD) were measured and a fixed focus-to-film distance (FFD) was used during the study. Corrected dimensions of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae (T4-L5) were calculated using the FFD and VFD. These corrected dimensions were then used to recalculate projected vertebral dimensions at different focus-to-film distances. The applied geometric corrections were verified in a phantom study representing an in vitro situation. The results indicate that studies using different X-ray techniques for making lateral radiographs of the spine can become comparable when using corrected vertebral dimensions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van Bodegom
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kuiper
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: van Rijn
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Kuijk
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Zwamborn
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Grashuis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001824:Body Constitution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014965:X-Rays