Li Yujie, Yin Tiantian, Yang Qiushi, Han Heli, Wang Zeguo, Yu Wanjiang
School of Medical Imaging, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China.
Department of Radiology, Qingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Municipal Hospital), Qingdao, Shandong, China.
Front Med Technol. 2025 May 12;7:1575553. doi: 10.3389/fmedt.2025.1575553. eCollection 2025.
Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) has received growing attention for its utility in bone mineral density (BMD) assessment and osteoporosis diagnosis.
To assess the accuracy and precision of lumbar spine BMD measurements obtained using low-dose iCare QCT, based on the European Spine Phantom (ESP).
Paired -test was employed to compare BMD values measured under normal-dose and low-dose scan protocols using Mindways and iCare QCT systems. Accuracy was evaluated using relative measurement error (RME), and precision was assessed via relative standard deviation (RSD). Pearson correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman analysis were used to examine measurement correlation and agreement.
For Mindways QCT, RMEs of L1-L3 were 11.89%, 6.94%, and 6.72% under normal-dose, and 6.65%, 10.5%, and 6.31% under low-dose, respectively. For iCare QCT, RMEs were 1.21%, 4.28%, and 8.88% under normal-dose, and 2.14%, 4.96%, and 8.59% under low-dose, respectively. RSDs of L1-L3 for Mindways QCT were 5.16%, 2.85%, and 0.47% under normal-dose, and 9.08%, 4.69%, and 0.49% under low-dose, respectively. For iCare QCT, RSDs were 1.11%, 0.81%, and 0.45% under normal-dose, and 2.34%, 0.85%, and 0.33% under low-dose, respectively. The radiation dose in the low-dose protocol was significantly reduced compared with the normal-dose protocol.
Low-dose iCare QCT exhibited high accuracy and precision in measuring lumbar spine BMD, achieving an approximately 85% reduction in radiation dose. These findings highlight its potential as a safer and reliable tool for clinical application.
定量计算机断层扫描（QCT）因其在骨密度（BMD）评估和骨质疏松症诊断中的作用而受到越来越多的关注。
基于欧洲脊柱模型（ESP），评估使用低剂量iCare QCT获得的腰椎骨密度测量的准确性和精密度。
采用配对检验，比较使用Mindways和iCare QCT系统在正常剂量和低剂量扫描方案下测量的骨密度值。使用相对测量误差（RME）评估准确性，通过相对标准偏差（RSD）评估精密度。使用Pearson相关系数和Bland-Altman分析来检验测量相关性和一致性。
对于Mindways QCT，L1-L3在正常剂量下的RME分别为11.89%、6.94%和6.72%，在低剂量下分别为6.65%、10.5%和6.31%。对于iCare QCT，正常剂量下的RME分别为1.21%、4.28%和8.88%，低剂量下分别为2.14%、4.96%和8.59%。Mindways QCT的L1-L3在正常剂量下的RSD分别为5.16%、2.85%和0.47%，在低剂量下分别为9.08%、4.69%和0.49%。对于iCare QCT，正常剂量下的RSD分别为1.11%、0.81%和0.45%，低剂量下分别为2.34%、0.85%和0.33%。与正常剂量方案相比，低剂量方案中的辐射剂量显著降低。
低剂量iCare QCT在测量腰椎骨密度方面表现出高准确性和精密度，辐射剂量降低了约85%。这些发现凸显了其作为临床应用中更安全可靠工具的潜力。
