Recommendations for High-resolution Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography Assessment of Bone Density, Microarchitecture, and Strength in Pediatric Populations
- Open Access
- 10.07.2023
Abstract
Introduction
Overview of HR-pQCT
Bone Growth During Childhood and Adolescence
Overview of Current HR-pQCT Techniques
Specifications of HR-pQCT Scanners
Image Acquisition
Protocol | UBC-Calgary | Shriners | Stanford-UCSF |
|---|---|---|---|
Radius reference line position | Medial proximal margin of radial head | Open GP: Distal margin of GP | Open GP: Proximal margin of GP |
Fused GP (visible): Distal margin of GP | Fused GP (visible): Proximal margin of GP | ||
Fused GP (not visible): Medial proximal margin of radial head | Fused GP (not visible): Medial proximal margin of radial head | ||
Radius ROI position | XCTI: Ends at 7% of ulna length from the reference line | Begins at 4% ulna length from reference line | Centered at 4% ulna length from reference line |
XCTII: Begins at 4% of ulna length from the reference line | |||
Advantage(s) | • Same reference line for all ages | • ROI is in the same region with respect to the GP in all participants | • ROI is in the same region with respect to the GP in all participants |
• Reference line placement is more precise | • Excludes GP in all participants | • Excludes GP in all participants | |
• Reference line is the same as the standard adult relative offset | • Easy to apply for fully fused or fully open GP | • Fused GP (not visible): Reference line and ROI is the same as the standard adult relative offset | |
• Fused GP (not visible): Reference line is the same as the standard adult relative offset | |||
Disadvantage(s) | • ROI may encroach on the GP in younger (< 8 years) or shorter children | • Reference line changes if GP is not visible at follow-up | • Reference line changes if GP is not visible at follow-up |
• ROI is not in the same region with respect to the GP in all participants | • Reference line placement at the GP is less precise | • Reference line placement at the GP is less precise | |
• ROI is not the same as adult scans | |||
Tibia reference line position | Tibial plateau | Open GP: Distal margin of GP | Open GP: Proximal margin of GP |
Fused GP (visible): Distal margin of GP | Fused GP (visible): Proximal margin of GP | ||
Fused GP (not visible): Tibial plateau | Fused GP (not visible): Tibial plateau | ||
Tibia ROI position | XCTI: Ends at 8% of tibia length from the reference line | Begins at 4% tibia length from reference line | Centered at 4% tibia length from reference line |
XCTII: Begins at 6% of tibia length from the reference line | |||
Advantage(s) | • Same reference line for all ages and same as adult tibia scans | • ROI is in the same region with respect to the GP in all participants | • ROI is in the same region with respect to the GP in all participants |
• Reference line placement is more precise | • Excludes GP in all participants | • Easy to apply for fully fused GP (visible/not visible) or fully open GP | |
• Easy to apply for fully fused GP (visible/not visible) or fully open GP | |||
Disadvantage(s) | • ROI may encroach on the GP in younger (< 8 years) or shorter children | • In rare cases the reference line landmark changes between two time points if the GP is not visible | • In rare cases the reference line landmark changes between two time points if the GP is not visible |
• ROI is not in the same region with respect to the GP in all participants | • Reference line placement at the GP is less precise | • Reference line placement at the GP is less precise | |
Reference data | • XCTI reference data for ages 10 to 21 years [9] | • XCTII reference data for ages 5 to 20 years (unpublished) | |
• XCTII reference data for healthy children and those with osteogenesis imperfecta from ages 5 to 18 years (unpublished) | |||
Recommended use case(s) | • Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies spanning late childhood to adulthood | Radius | Radius |
• Cross-sectional: all ages | • Cross-sectional: all ages | ||
• Longitudinal: studies during growth | • Longitudinal: studies during growth | ||
Tibia | Tibia | ||
• Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of all ages | • Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of all ages |
Current Pediatric HR-pQCT Protocols
University of British Columbia Protocol
Shriners Protocol
Stanford/University of California San Francisco Protocol
Diaphyseal Scan Site
Motion Artifacts
Image Processing and Analysis
Finite Element Analysis
Image Registration of Longitudinal Pediatric HR-pQCT Scans
Pediatric HR-pQCT Precision Data
Special Cases
Double Stack Scanning
Rare Bone Disease Populations: Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Practical Tips for Pediatric Scanning
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Sending the child and caregiver pictures of the scanner with a child in it in advance of their visit. Some are fearful of the scanner itself and images can help both children and their caregivers prepare for what to expect.
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Making the scanning room child friendly (e.g., stickers on the wall or device).
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Providing distractions such as a video that participants can watch without touching or moving their upper body (e.g., propped on a foam block or a tablet stand; Fig. 2c).
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Describing what the machine will do (e.g., “this machine will take a picture of the bones in your leg. The scanner makes a funny sound, but nothing will touch you during the scan.”)
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Identifying any wiggly toes or thumbs that can be controlled with some tape.
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Making the child as comfortable as possible, particularly for the radius scan. Pillows can be tucked around their arm or leg to help support the limb. A box to rest the feet can help prevent the legs from swinging. Blankets might be needed as the room is often cool.
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Using the smaller arm cast for the radius scan.
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If using the manufacturer’s chair, placing pillows to prop the child closer to the gantry (Fig. 2b, c).
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For participants with mobility challenges, preparing ahead for the use of alternate seating (e.g., wheelchairs, EOS chair) or transferring to the manufacturer’s chair and stabilizing the participant with Velcro straps or a harness.
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If the first scan has a motion score of 3 or higher, checking in with the participant to see if they are cold, fearful, or have any questions. Ask if anything needs to be changed and try again. More than anything, having patience and kindness working with these participants to help them remain still.
Summary and Future Directions
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Studies in pediatric populations with common and rare diseases.
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Precision data in healthy children and in children with common and rare diseases.
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Studies assessing the validity of image segmentation, including applying Laplace-Hamming or new BMD-independent segmentation methods with XCTII scans.
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Studies assessing the validity of adult homogenous material property assumptions and μFE failure criterion in children.