Xu Hongmin, Gabriel Medhat Sam, James Judy Rose
Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, United States.
BJR Case Rep. 2024 Oct 22;10(6):uaae038. doi: 10.1093/bjrcr/uaae038. eCollection 2024 Nov.
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a sophisticated imaging technique utilized in the field of medical diagnostics to measure bone mineral density. The significance of DXA lies in its ability to accurately assess bone health, which is crucial in the evaluation of osteoporosis, a condition characterized by weakened bones and heightened susceptibility to fractures. Despite its widespread adoption and clinical utility, DXA is not without limitations. Factors such as body size, tissue hydration, the presence of metal implants, improper equipment installation and maintenance, as well as inadequate education and training in bone densitometry may influence DXA measurements, necessitating careful interpretation by trained professionals. We present a case to show the errors that occurred during DXA analysis leading to dramatic T-score changes, highlighting the importance of technologists' adherence to manufacturers' recommendations, to ensure the accurate processing of DXA scans and diagnosis.
双能X线吸收测定法(DXA)是医学诊断领域用于测量骨矿物质密度的一种先进成像技术。DXA的重要性在于其能够准确评估骨骼健康,这在骨质疏松症评估中至关重要,骨质疏松症是一种以骨骼变弱和骨折易感性增加为特征的病症。尽管DXA被广泛采用且具有临床实用性,但它并非没有局限性。诸如体型、组织含水量、金属植入物的存在、设备安装和维护不当,以及骨密度测量方面的教育和培训不足等因素可能会影响DXA测量结果,这就需要经过培训的专业人员进行仔细解读。我们呈现一个案例,展示DXA分析过程中出现的导致T值显著变化的错误,强调技术人员遵循制造商建议以确保DXA扫描准确处理和诊断的重要性。