Peripheral quantitative computed tomography of the distal and proximal forearm in children and adolescents: bone densities, cross-sectional sizes and soft tissues reference data

OBJECTIVES: Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) is gaining popularity in the field of paediatric bone densitometry, however, very little is known about reference limits. The purpose of this study was to develop country-specific reference data for bone densities, cross-sectional sizes, strength and regional tissue distribution measured by pQCT at the distal and proximal forearm in children and adolescents aged 5-19 yrs. METHODS: Stratec XCT 2000L apparatus was used. Measurement sites were 4% and 66% of the forearm length on non-dominant arm. Studied group comprised 221 participants (103 girls) aged 4.5-19.5 yrs. The LMS method was used to fit percentile curves for each outcomes. RESULTS: Smoothed percentile curves were developed for following outcomes: trabecular volumetric bone mineral density, total volumetric bone mineral density, distal total bone cross-sectional area, cortical volumetric bone mineral density, cortical cross-sectional area, proximal total bone cross-sectional area, polar strength strain index, fat cross-sectional area and muscle cross-sectional area. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we present reference data for bone densities, cross-sectional size and strength as well as for regional tissue distribution measured by pQCT at the distal and proximal forearm in children 5-19 yrs in a way allowing simple calculation of reliable Z scores.