Braillon P M, Lapillonne A, Ho P S, Bouvier R, Bochu M, Salle B L
Department of Radiology, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon, France.
Skeletal Radiol. 1996 Nov;25(8):711-5. doi: 10.1007/s002560050166.
To assess the true mineral density (BMD, in g/cm3) of the lumbar spine in newborns.
A postmortem analysis of five infants with gestational ages ranging from 35 to 40 weeks, and birth weights from 2765 to 3200 g, was conducted using dual-energy quantitative computed tomography (QCT; Siemens Somatom DR). A 2 or 4 mm thick slice was obtained for each lumbar vertebra from L1 to L4. The density measured in these vertebrae was corrected by reference to a solid phantom (Osteo-CT) measured simultaneously. A three-dimensional image of the spine (Elscint CT Twin), as well as a photomicrograph of histological preparation from L2 vertebra, were also obtained in another term baby for comparison with the CT results.
In the range of values studied, the vertebral densities were not dependent on birth weight. BMD values measured in L2, L3 and L4 were not significantly different, but were 10% lower than in L1 in four of five infants. The spatial resolution of the QCT protocol used (0.4 mm) did not permit the differentiation of trabecular and cortical bone, and the vertebral bodies appeared very homogeneous and dense, with a mean density value of 210 +/- 30 mg Ca/cm3, which is 2.5 times higher than the mean maximum value found in young normal adults. These preliminary results highlight the potential of QCT in neonatology. Special protocols will, however, need to be developed for in vivo measurements in this particular paediatric field.
评估新生儿腰椎的真实骨密度（BMD，单位：g/cm³）。
使用双能定量计算机断层扫描（QCT；西门子Somatom DR）对5例胎龄在35至40周、出生体重在2765至3200 g之间的婴儿进行尸检分析。从L1至L4的每个腰椎获取2或4毫米厚的切片。通过同时测量的固体模型（骨CT）对这些椎体的密度进行校正。还在另一名足月儿中获取了脊柱的三维图像（Elscint CT Twin）以及L2椎体组织学切片的显微照片，以便与CT结果进行比较。
在所研究的值范围内，椎体密度与出生体重无关。L2、L3和L4处测量的骨密度值无显著差异，但在5例婴儿中有4例低于L1处测量值的10%。所使用的QCT方案（0.4毫米）的空间分辨率无法区分小梁骨和皮质骨，椎体看起来非常均匀且致密，平均密度值为210±30毫克钙/立方厘米，这比年轻正常成年人中发现的平均最大值高2.5倍。这些初步结果凸显了QCT在新生儿学中的潜力。然而，在这个特殊的儿科领域进行体内测量需要开发特殊的方案。
