Correlations found between Hounsfield units and bone mineral density, compressive strength

Schreiber JJ, et al. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2011; 93:1057-1063. doi:10.2106/JBJS.J.00160

Hounsfield units — standardized computed tomography attenuation coefficients — were found in this study to have a strong correlation to bone mineral density, age, T-scores and compressive strength.

Access to this information through computed tomography (CT) could lead to earlier diagnoses of decreased bone mineral density without added expense to the patient, the authors noted.

The study looked at 25 patients who underwent lumbar spine dual X-ray absorptiometry scans and CT imaging to determine correlations between Hounsfield units, bone mineral density and T-scores. Further CT examinations from 80 consecutive trauma patients stratified by age and sex were used to generate normative data. The team also performed mechanized testing to determine compressive strength and CT scans of polyurethane foam blocks of various densities. Analysis was performed on the results found, with values of compressive strength and Hounsfield units checked for correlation.

“Hounsfield units obtained from clinical computed tomography scans that are made for other purposes correlate with dual X-ray absorptiometry scores as well as compressive strengths based on osseous models and potentially provide an alternative method for determining regional bone mineral density at no additional cost to the patient,” the authors wrote.

The team added the information in the study may find application in fracture risk assessment, osteoporosis diagnosis and the early initiation of treatment.