Abstract
The bone mineral content (BMC) and the cortical thickness at the distal radius and at the II metacarpal were assessed in growing individuals (167 females and 158 males) by radiometric and quantitative roentgen microdensitometric methods. BMC adjusted for age and pubertal status was significantly higher in males than in females. However, the BMC corrected for bone volume (volumetric bone density, g/cm3) and the metacarpal cortical index (cortical area/total area) were identical in males and females. BMC rose progressively with age, approaching a plateau by the end of puberty. Lower but still significant increases with age were also observed for volumetric bone density of the metacarpus and the metacarpal index. These increases were also most marked by the end of pubertal maturation and might be related to diminution of bone turnover.
Conclusion
This study provides the normative data of bone mass in growing individuals by making use of a reasonably accurate and easily available technique. The results obtained indicate that most of the differences between males and females and the changes with age are related to changes in skeletal dimension rather than density.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Abbreviations
- BD :
-
bone density
- BMC :
-
bone mineral content
- BMCr :
-
bone mineral content of ultradistal radius
- CV :
-
coefficient of variation
- DEXA :
-
dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
- MI :
-
metacarpal index
- QCT :
-
quantitative computed tomography
- vBD :
-
volumetric bone density
References
Adami S, Zamberlan N, Gatti D, Rossini M, Braga V, Broggini M, Zanfisi C (1995) Computed radiographic absorptiometry and morphometry in the assessment of postmenopausal bone loss. Osteop Internat (in press)
Adami S, Gatti D, Rossini M, Zamberlan N, Braga V, Bianchini D (1995) Effect of ageing on trabecular and compact bone components of proximal and ultradistal radius. Bone (in press)
Barnett E, Nordin BEC (1960) The radiological diagnosis of osteoporosis. A new approach. Clin Radiol XI:166–174
Bonjour JP, Theintz G, Buchs B, Slosman D, Rizzoli R (1991) Critical years and stages of puberty for spinal and femoral bone mass accumulation during adolescence. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 73:555–563
Cosman F, Herrington B, Himmelstein S, Lindsay R (1991) Radiographic absorptiometry: a simple method for determination of bone mass. Osteop Internat 2:34–38
DePriester JA, Cole TJ, Bishop NJ (1991) Bone growth and mineralisation in children aged 4 to 10 years. Bone Minl 12:57–65
Dequeker J (1982) Precision of the radiogrammetric evaluation of bone mass at the metacarpal bone. In: Dequeker J, Johnston CC (eds) Non invasive bone measurements: methodological problems IRL Press, Oxford, pp 27–32
Derisquebourg T, Dubois P, Devogelaer JP, Meyes E, Duquesnoy B (1994) Automated computerized radiogrammometry of the second metacarpal and its correlation with absorptiometry of the forearm and spine. Calcif Tissue Internat 54:461–465
Garn SM, Rohman M, Wagner B (1967) Bone loss as a general phenomenon in man. Fed Proc 26:1729–1736
Gilsanz V, Roe TF, Mora S, Costin G, Goodman WG (1991) Changes in vertebral bone density in black girls and white girls during childhood and puberty. N Engl J Med 325:1597–1600
Greulich WW, Pyle SI (1959) Radiographic atlas of skeletal development of the hand and wrist, edn 2. Stanford University Press, Stanford
Hui SI, Slemenda SW, Johnston CC (1990) The contribution of rapid bone loss to postmenopausal osteoporosis. Osteop Internat 1:30–34
Johansen JS, Giwercman A, Hartwell D, Nielsen CT, Price PA, Christiansen C, Skakkebæk NE (1988) Serum bone gla-protein as a marker of bone growth in children and adolescents: correlation with age, height, serum insulin-like growth factor I, and serum testosterone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 67:273–278
Kröger H, Kotaniemi A, Kröger L, Alhava E (1993) Development of bone mass and bone density of the spine and femoral neck-a prospective study of 65 children and adolescents. Bone Min 23:171–182
Meema HE, Meindok H (1992) Advantages of peripheral radiogrammetry over dual-photon absorptiometry of the spine in the assessment of prevalence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures in women. J Bone Min Res 7:897–903
Meema HE, Meema S (1981) Radiogrammetry. In: Cohn S (ed) Noninvasive measurements of bone mass and their clinical applications. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 5–50
Parfitt AM (1981) Integration of skeletal and mineral homeostasis. In: De Luca HF, Frost HM, Jee WSS, Johnston CC, Parfitt AM (eds) Osteoporosis. Recent advances in pathogenesis and treatment. University Park Press, Baltimore, pp 115–126
Slosman DO, Rizzoli R, Donath A, Bonjour JP (1990) Vertebral fracture assessment using a semi-quantitative technique. J Bone Min Res 8:1137–1148
Tanner JM (1962) Growth and adolescence 2nd edn. Blackwell, Oxford (UK)
Theintz G, Buchs B, Rizzoli R, Slosman D, Clavien H, Sizonenko PC, Bonjour JP (1992) Longitudinal monitoring of bone mass accumulation in healthy adolescents: evidence for a marked reduction after 16 years of age at the levels of lumbar spine and femoral neck in female subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 75:1060–1065
Trouerbach WT, A de Man S, Gommers D, Zwamborn AW, Grobbee DE (1991) Determinants of bone mineral content in childhood. Bone Min 13:55–67
Yang Os, Hagiwara S, Engelke K, et al (1994) Radiographic absorptiometry for bone mineral measurement of the phalanges: precision and accuracy study. Radiology 192:857–859
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zamberlan, N., Radetti, G., Paganini, C. et al. Evaluation of cortical thickness and bone density by roentgen microdensitometry in growing males and females. Eur J Pediatr 155, 377–382 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01955265
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01955265