Twelve lumbar vertebral bodies from cadavers were examined with dual-energy CT, to measure the calcium content in a big central region of interest (ROI). In each of five vertebrae the calcium content was also measured in six small ROI. After completed scanning, six small cylinders were drilled out from each vertebra, and the ash-density of each cylinder was measured. The dual-energy CT measurements correlated well with the ash-density. Both ash-density and dual-energy CT showed a significantly higher mineral content in the posterior part of the vertebrae than in the anterior part, and this difference might be responsible for problems encountered with the reproducibility of dual-energy CT.
. BurgessA. E.ColborneB.ZoffmannE.: Vertebral trabecular bone. Comparison of single and dual-energy CT measurements with chemical analysis. J. Comput. Assist. Tomogr.11 (1987), 506.
2.
. CannC. E.GenantH. K.: Precise measurements of vertebral mineral content using computed tomography. J. Comput. Assist. Tomogr.4 (1980), 493.
3.
. ErikssonS.IsbergB.LindgrenU.: Vertebral bone mineral measurement using dual photon absorptiometry and computed tomography. Acta Radiol.29 (1988), 89.
4.
. GenantH. K.CannC. E., Ettinger B. and coll.: Quantitative computed tomography for spinal mineral assessment. Current status. J. Comput. Assist. Tomogr.9 (1985), 602.
5.
. KalenderW. A.KlotzE. K.SuessC.: Vertebral bone mineral analysis. An integrated approach with CT. Radiology164 (1987), 419.
6.
. KrølnerB.: Lumbar spine bone mineral content by photon beam absoptiometry. Lægeforeningens Forlag, Copenhagen1985.
7.
. Laval-JeantetA. M.CannC. E.RogerB.DallentP.: A postprocessing dual energy technique for vertebral CT densitometry. J. Comput. Assist. Tomogr.8 (1984), 1164.
8.
. Laval-JeantetA. M.RogerB.BouysseS.BergotC.MazessR. B.: Influence of vertebral fat content on quantitative CT density. Radiology159 (1986), 463.
9.
. Laval-JeantetA. M.CannC. E.: Age related changes of vertebral marrow fat and influence on CT densitometry. J. Comput. Assist. Tomogr.7 (1983), 562.
10.
. Siemens: Dual energy methods for Somatom DR. Siemens Aktiengesellschaft. Medical Engineering Group. Erlangen, West Germany.
11.
. VetterJ. R.PermanW. H.KalenderW. A.MazessR. B.HoldenJ. E.: Evaluation of a prototype dual-energy computed tomographic apparatus. II. Determination of vertebral bone mineral content. Med. Phys.13 (1986), 340.
