TY - JOUR T1 - Effect of neck flexion on measurements of bone mineral density of spine and necessity for applying head positioners during dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry JF - Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology JO - J. Nucl. Med. Technol. DO - 10.2967/jnmt.118.216275 SP - jnmt.118.216275 AU - Mohsen Qutbi AU - Sajad Ghanbari AU - Mehdi Soltanshahi AU - Saba Karami Gorzi AU - Yaser Shiravand AU - Shahla Ranji Y1 - 2020/07/01 UR - http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/early/2020/07/24/jnmt.118.216275.abstract N2 - Rationale: To investigate potential effect of neck flexion on measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) of spine through further reduction of spinal lordosis and necessity for applying head positioners, in addition to leg positioner, during dual energy X ray absorptiometry (DXA). Methods: Fifty-nine patients without any significant history of spinal disorder were recruited. A bone densitometry scan of spine was performed for all patients using a standard leg positioner in supine position. Then another scan of spine was conducted using a small subnuchal cushion in order to flex neck and thus, to straighten and minimize the lumbar lordosis. Parameters including areas, bone mineral content (BMC), BMD and T- and Z-scores of each lumbar vertebra (L1 to L4) and total spine were extracted in two scans and were then compared. Results: Mean age of patients were 55.53 (±11.86) and 53 (89.83%) were female and 6 (10.17%) male. A statistically significant difference was found between corresponding values of area, BMD in L4 and total spine. Percentages of change from scan without cushion to with cushion were 1.20% and 0.58% for area of L4 and total spine respectively. Likewise, percentages of change were -0.64% and -0.34% for BMD of L4 and total spine respectively. A change in diagnosis was observed only in one patient from normal to osteopenia. Conclusion: Use of head positioners to flex neck and thus to minimize lumbar lordosis DXA does not seem to exert a significant effect on the diagnosis and densitometric measurements from clinical standpoint. ER -