Alqahtani, F.F., Crabtree, N.J., Bromiley, P.A. et al. (4 more authors) (2020) Diagnostic performance of morphometric vertebral fracture analysis (MXA) in children using a 33-point software program. Bone, 133. 115249. ISSN 8756-3282
Abstract
Background
There is significant inter and intraobserver variability in diagnosing vertebral fractures in children.
Purpose
We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of morphometric vertebral fracture analysis (MXA) using a 33-point software program designed for adults, on dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) images of children.
Materials and methods
Lateral spine DXA images of 420 children aged between 5 and 18 years were retrospectively reviewed. Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) by an expert pediatric radiologist using Genant's semiquantitative scoring system served as the gold standard. All 420 DXA scans were analyzed by a trained radiographer, using semi-automated software (33-point morphometry). VFA of a random sample of 100 DXA was performed by an experienced pediatric clinical scientist. MXA of a random sample of 30 DXA images were analyzed by three pediatric radiologists and the pediatric clinical scientist. Diagnostic accuracy and inter and intraobserver agreement (kappa statistics) were calculated.
Results
Overall sensitivity, specificity, false positive (FP) and false negative (FN) rates for the radiographer using the MXA software were 80%, 90%, 10%, and 20% respectively and for mild fractures alone were 46%, 92%, 8%, and 54% respectively. Overall sensitivity, specificity, FP, and FN rates for the four additional observers using MXA were 89%, 79%, 21%, and 11% respectively and for mild fractures alone were 36%, 86%, 14%, and 64% respectively. Agreement between two expert observers was fair to good for VFA and MXA [kappa = 0·29 to 0·76 (95% CI: 0·17–0·88) and 0·29 to 0·69 (95% CI: 0·17–0·83)] respectively.
Conclusion
MXA using a 33-point technique developed for adults is not a reliable method for the identification of mild vertebral fractures in children. A pediatric standard is required which not only incorporates specific vertebral body height ratios but also the age-related physiological changes in vertebral shape that occur throughout childhood.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2020 Elsevier Inc. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in BONE. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. Article available under the terms of the CC-BY-NC-ND licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). |
Keywords: | Vertebral fracture assessment; Fracture; Pediatric; DXA; Morphometric vertebral fracture analysis |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > Department of Human Metabolism (Sheffield) The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > Department of Oncology (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 23 Jul 2020 16:28 |
Last Modified: | 21 Jan 2021 01:39 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier BV |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.bone.2020.115249 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:163684 |