Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2011 Jun 1;93(11):1057-63. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.J.00160.
Measurements obtained from clinical computed tomography examinations may yield information leading to the diagnosis of decreased bone mineral density, without added expense to the patient. The purpose of the present study was to determine if Hounsfield units, a standardized computed tomography attenuation coefficient, correlate with bone mineral density and compressive strength.
Twenty-five patients (including eighteen female and seven male patients with a mean age of 71.3 years) undergoing both lumbar spine dual x-ray absorptiometry scans and computed tomography imaging were evaluated to determine if Hounsfield units correlated with bone mineral density and T-scores. Normative data were generated from lumbar spine computed tomography examinations for eighty consecutive trauma patients and were stratified by age and sex. Separately, polyurethane foam blocks of varying densities were imaged with computed tomography and were subjected to mechanical testing to determine compressive strength. Compressive strength values and Hounsfield units were analyzed for correlation.
Significant correlations were found between Hounsfield units and bone mineral density, age, and T-scores and between Hounsfield units and compressive strength (p < 0.001).
Hounsfield units obtained from clinical computed tomography scans that are made for other purposes correlate with dual x-ray absorptiometry scores as well as compressive strengths based on osseous models and potentially provide an alternative method for determining regional bone mineral density at no additional cost to the patient. The information could conceivably be applied toward fracture risk assessment, diagnosis of osteoporosis, and early initiation of needed treatment.
临床计算机断层扫描检查获得的测量值可能提供有关骨密度降低的诊断信息，而不会增加患者的费用。本研究的目的是确定亨氏单位（一种标准化的计算机断层扫描衰减系数）是否与骨密度和抗压强度相关。
对 25 名患者（包括 18 名女性和 7 名男性，平均年龄为 71.3 岁）进行腰椎双能 X 线吸收法扫描和计算机断层成像检查，以确定亨氏单位是否与骨密度和 T 评分相关。从 80 例连续创伤患者的腰椎计算机断层成像检查中生成了正常数据，并按年龄和性别分层。此外，用计算机断层成像对不同密度的聚氨酯泡沫块进行成像，并进行机械测试以确定抗压强度。分析了抗压强度值和亨氏单位之间的相关性。
发现亨氏单位与骨密度、年龄和 T 评分之间以及亨氏单位与抗压强度之间存在显著相关性（p<0.001）。
出于其他目的而获得的临床计算机断层扫描的亨氏单位与双能 X 线吸收法评分以及基于骨模型的抗压强度相关，并且可能提供一种替代方法来确定患者无额外费用的区域骨密度。这些信息可以用于骨折风险评估、骨质疏松症的诊断和及时开始必要的治疗。
