Table 2 Pros and cons of pQCT for bone health evaluation in developmental age [180]
Advantages of pQCT | Disadvantages of pQCT |
|---|---|
Measure of bone geometry : marrow and cortical Cross-Sectional Area (CSA), Cortical Thickness (CoTh), periosteal and endosteal circumference. | Evaluation of only appendicular bone with low turnover (radius and tibia). |
Distinct obtainment of Trabecular and Cortical BMD values | Low spatial resolution. |
Good accurancy and precision. | Exact repositioning of the extremity required in follow-up. |
Low radiation dose (≈3 μSv per scan), especially important in children. | Scarce data available about pQCT –based fracture risk. |
Functional evaluation of pediatric bone diseases, through muscle and fat measures and biomechanical bone parameters provided. | Â |