A reference database for the Stratec XCT-2000 peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) scanner in healthy children and young adults aged 6-19 years.
CONCLUSIONS
We have produced paediatric reference data for forearm sites using the Stratec XCT-2000 peripheral quantitative computed tomography scanner. These data are intended for clinical and research use and will assist in the interpretation of bone mineral density and bone geometric parameters at the distal and mid-shaft radius in children and young adults aged between 6-19 years.


BACKGROUND
Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) provides measurements of bone mineral content (BMC), density (BMD) and bone geometry. There is a lack of reference data available for the interpretation of pQCT measurements in children and young adults. The aim of this study was to provide reference data at the distal and mid-shaft radius.


METHODS
pQCT was used to measure the 4% and 50% sites of the non-dominant radius in a cohort of healthy white Caucasian children and young adults aged between 5 and 25 years. The lambda, mu, sigma (LMS) technique was used to produce gender-specific reference centile curves and LMS tables for calculating individual standard deviations scores.


RESULTS
The study population consisted of 629 participants (380 males). Reference centile curves were produced; total and trabecular BMD for age (distal radius) and for age and height, bone area (distal and mid-shaft radius), cortical area, cortical thickness, BMC, axial moment of inertia, stress-strain index and muscle area (mid-shaft radius).


CONCLUSIONS
We present gender-specific databases for the assessment of the distal and mid-shaft radius by pQCT. These data can be used as control data for research studies and allow the clinical interpretation of pQCT measurements in children and young adults by age and height.
Ashby
R L
RL
Clinical Radiology, Imaging Science & Cancer Studies, Stopford Building, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
Ward
K A
KA
Roberts
S A
SA
Edwards
L
L
Mughal
M Z
MZ
Adams
J E
JE
D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011884:Radius / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012923:Social Class; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055815:Young Adult