The Contribution of a Forearm DXA to an Osteoporosis Diagnosis
Project Description
What is the contribution of a forearm DXA to an osteoporosis diagnosis?
A dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) exam typically focuses on the bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck and the lumbar spine for a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Less frequently, a forearm DXA scan is performed and may contribute to the diagnosis.
This project would leverage our Calgary Bone Health Study database of over 2000 participants who have received DXA exams of their hips, spine and forearm. It would examine how a DXA report of the forearm contributes to the overall clinical exam. There is an opportunity to compare these findings to our advanced imaging outcomes based on high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) that uses our fracture prediction model, µFRAC, to estimate fracture risk.
Some publications of recent are highly relevant to this project:
- Burrell S, Desaulniers M, Jen H, Maguire C, Stilwell M, 2025. CAR Practice Guideline on Bone Mineral Densitometry Reporting: 2024 Update. Can Assoc Radiol J 76, 417-426. [Link to article]
- Leslie WD, Burrell S, Morin SN, 2025. Fracture Risk Assessment in the 2023 Osteoporosis Canada Guideline. Can Assoc Radiol J 76, 508-518. [Link to article]
- Morin SN, Feldman S, Funnell L, Giangregorio L, Kim S, McDonald-Blumer H, Santesso N, Ridout R, Ward W, Ashe MC, Bardai Z, Bartley J, Binkley N, Burrell S, Butt D, Cadarette SM, Cheung AM, Chilibeck P, Dunn S, Falk J, Frame H, Gittings W, Hayes K, Holmes C, Ioannidis G, Jaglal SB, Josse R, Khan AA, McIntyre V, Nash L, Negm A, Papaioannou A, Ponzano M, Rodrigues IB, Thabane L, Thomas CA, Tile L, Wark JD, Osteoporosis Canada Guideline Update G, 2023. Clinical practice guideline for management of osteoporosis and fracture prevention in Canada: 2023 update. CMAJ 195, E1333-E1348. [Link to article]
Scope
- MSc project
- Summer student
Data Source
- CaBHS
Resources
- Python scripts
- R