OBJECTIVES: Pitfalls in dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) are common. Our aim was to assess rate and type of errors in DXA examinations/reports, evaluating a consecutive series of DXA images of patients examined elsewhere and later presenting to our institution for a follow-up DXA. METHODS: After ethics committee approval, a radiologist retrospectively reviewed all DXA images provided by patients presenting at our institution for a new DXA. Errors were categorized as patient positioning (PP), data analysis (DA), artefacts and/or demographics. RESULTS: Of 2,476 patients, 1,198 had no previous DXA, while 793 had a previous DXA performed in our institution. The remaining 485 (20 %) patients entered the study (38 men and 447 women; mean age ± standard deviation, 68 ± 9 years). Previous DXA examinations were performed at a total of 37 centres. Of 485 reports, 451 (93 %) had at least one error out of a total of 558 errors distributed as follows: 441 (79 %) were DA, 66 (12 %) PP, 39 (7 %) artefacts and 12 (2 %) demographics. CONCLUSIONS: About 20 % of patients did not undergo DXA at the same institution as previously. More than 90 % of DXA presented at least one error, mainly of DA. International Society for Clinical Densitometry guidelines are very poorly adopted. KEY POINTS: • More than 90 % of DXA examinations/reports presented one or more errors. • About 80 % of errors are related to image data analysis. • Errors in DXA examinations may have potential implications for patients' management.
OBJECTIVES: Pitfalls in dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) are common. Our aim was to assess rate and type of errors in DXA examinations/reports, evaluating a consecutive series of DXA images of patients examined elsewhere and later presenting to our institution for a follow-up DXA. METHODS: After ethics committee approval, a radiologist retrospectively reviewed all DXA images provided by patients presenting at our institution for a new DXA. Errors were categorized as patient positioning (PP), data analysis (DA), artefacts and/or demographics. RESULTS: Of 2,476 patients, 1,198 had no previous DXA, while 793 had a previous DXA performed in our institution. The remaining 485 (20 %) patients entered the study (38 men and 447 women; mean age ± standard deviation, 68 ± 9 years). Previous DXA examinations were performed at a total of 37 centres. Of 485 reports, 451 (93 %) had at least one error out of a total of 558 errors distributed as follows: 441 (79 %) were DA, 66 (12 %) PP, 39 (7 %) artefacts and 12 (2 %) demographics. CONCLUSIONS: About 20 % of patients did not undergo DXA at the same institution as previously. More than 90 % of DXA presented at least one error, mainly of DA. International Society for Clinical Densitometry guidelines are very poorly adopted. KEY POINTS: • More than 90 % of DXA examinations/reports presented one or more errors. • About 80 % of errors are related to image data analysis. • Errors in DXA examinations may have potential implications for patients' management.
Authors: Michele Bandirali; Luca M Sconfienza; Alberto Aliprandi; Giovanni Di Leo; Daniele Marchelli; Fabio M Ulivieri; Francesco Sardanelli Journal: Radiol Med Date: 2013-12-03 Impact factor: 3.469
Authors: A Delnevo; M Bandirali; G Di Leo; C Messina; L M Sconfienza; A Aliprandi; F M Ulivieri; F Sardanelli Journal: Clin Radiol Date: 2013-01-23 Impact factor: 2.350
Authors: M Di Paola; D Gatti; O Viapiana; L Cianferotti; L Cavalli; C Caffarelli; F Conversano; E Quarta; P Pisani; G Girasole; A Giusti; M Manfredini; G Arioli; M Matucci-Cerinic; G Bianchi; R Nuti; S Gonnelli; M L Brandi; M Muratore; M Rossini Journal: Osteoporos Int Date: 2018-09-04 Impact factor: 4.507
Authors: M A Clynes; L D Westbury; E M Dennison; J A Kanis; M K Javaid; N C Harvey; M Fujita; C Cooper; W D Leslie; C R Shuhart Journal: Osteoporos Int Date: 2020-05-06 Impact factor: 4.507
Authors: Carmelo Messina; Bianca Bignotti; Alberto Bazzocchi; Catherine M Phan; Alberto Tagliafico; Giuseppe Guglielmi; Francesco Sardanelli; Luca Maria Sconfienza Journal: Insights Imaging Date: 2017-04-21