The influence of aortic calcification on spinal bone mineral density in vitro.

We examined the influence of aortic calcification on the spine phantom bone mineral density (BMD). Soft X-ray photographs of human aortae were taken to calculate the percent calcification of aortic tissues. Human aorta laid on lumber spine phantom was placed in the bottom of 15 cm of water and BMD and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured in the anteroposterior view. Samples with severe aortic calcification (over 30%) caused a 2.5% increase of BMD. There might be a relatively small influence of aortic calcification on the value of L2-L4 BMD, but changes over time in a patient could falsely elevate values.