Opportunistic screening for bone mineral density deficits in pediatric patients from abdominal computed tomography scans obtained for other indications: a cross-sectional study.

Chuan Liu, Dandan Yang, Xijian Chen, Yi Liao, Gang Ning, Haibo Qu

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Article in Pediatric radiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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Chuan LiuDepartment of Radiology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Dandan YangThe Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China.

Xijian ChenDepartment of Radiology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Yi LiaoDepartment of Radiology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Gang NingDepartment of Radiology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Haibo QuDepartment of Radiology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. windowsqhb@126.com.

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6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundQuantitative computed tomography (QCT) has been widely applied for opportunistic screening for osteoporosis in adults, but it is rarely used in pediatric patients.

objectiveThis study aimed to investigate the feasibility of QCT and the prevalence of bone mineral density (BMD) deficits at the spine in pediatric patients undergoing an abdominal computed tomography (CT) for other indications. MATERIALS AND

methodsPediatric patients who underwent a clinical abdominal CT scan from October 2018 to November 2020 were recruited for this retrospective cross-sectional study. Lumbar trabecular BMD was evaluated by QCT. The relationships of treatment variables and other potential risk factors with low BMD were analyzed via the signed-rank test and logistic regression analysis.

resultsA total of 748 pediatric patients were included. The QCT scans revealed low lumbar BMD (Z-score ≤ -2) in 86 (11.5%) patients. A history of chemotherapy or radiation therapy (β = 3.925, P < 0.001), a history of chronic corticosteroid exposure (β = 4.852, P < 0.001), older age (10.0-17.9 years vs. 1.0-9.9 years; β = 2.306, P = 0.001), and short stature (height ≤ the 3rd percentile vs. height > the 3rd percentile; β = 1.920, P = 0.047) were significantly associated with low BMD in pediatric patients.

conclusionQCT could be applied for opportunistic screening for low BMD in pediatric patients. Patients with cancer or renal disease, or those with a history of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or chronic corticosteroid exposure, have a greater incidence of low BMD and constitute high-risk populations for BMD loss.

Indexed as

Bone DensityOsteoporosisRadiography, AbdominalTomography, X-Ray ComputedAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolCross-Sectional StudiesFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansInfantLumbar VertebraeMaleMass ScreeningRetrospective StudiesBone mineral densityOsteoporosisPediatricsQuantitative computed tomographyScreening

Identifiers

PMID39964436

DOI10.1007/s00247-025-06195-5

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