J Korean Soc Radiol.  2021 Jan;82(1):173-181. 10.3348/jksr.2019.0193.

Multidetector Computed Tomography in Patients with Femoral Neck Fracture for Assessing Osteoporosis: Comparison with Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry

• Lee HJ
• Hwang JY

• KMID: 2512602
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2019.0193

Abstract

Purpose
To evaluate the ability of the Hounsfield unit (HU) measurement of the femoral neck during multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for assessing osteoporosis compared with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
Materials and Methods
Forty-two patients with femoral neck fractures who underwent MDCT and DXA from July to December 2016 were included in this study. HU measurements were made of the cancellous portions of the normal contralateral femoral neck on MDCT. Bone mineral density (BMD) and T-scores were obtained at the femur DXA. Correlations of HU values with BMD and T-scores were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation test.
Results
The mean BMD and T-score of the femoral neck were 0.650 g/cm² and -2.4, respectively. The mean HU values for the normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups were 131.9, 98.9, and 41.3, respectively. HU values at the femoral neck were positively correlated with BMD (r² = 0.670; p < 0.001) and T-scores (r ² = 0.676; p < 0.001).
Conclusion
The HU values of the femoral neck on MDCT are significantly correlated with BMD and T-scores of femur DXA. The HU values may serve as a diagnostic tool for the screening of regional bone quality when MDCT is performed for other reasons.

Keyword

Multidetector Computed Tomography; Femoral Neck; Osteoporosis; Bone Density; Absorptiometry; Dual-Energy X-Ray