Journals / Hitit Medical Journal / 2026 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 3

DXA Misclassification from Degenerative Artifacts in Older Turkish Men

Yaşlı Türk Erkeklerinde Dejeneratif Artefaktlara Bağlı DXA Yanlış Sınıflaması

Pages
651–663
Publication Date
2026-10-14
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Overall, 74 of 220 men (33.6%) were reclassified to a lower bone density category at the femoral neck.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: Degenerative lumbar artifacts (osteophytes, abdominal aortic calcification [AAC], scoliosis) can falsely elevate bone mineral density on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
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Key Findings & Data:Material and Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study of 220 men aged 65–75 years, osteophytes, AAC, and scoliosis were assessed on DXA-blinded lumbar radiographs and scored 0–3.
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Conclusion & Impact:Overall, 74 of 220 men (33.6%) were reclassified to a lower bone density category at the femoral neck.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Absorbsiyometri · Kemik Yoğunluğu · Osteofit

Abstract

Objective: Degenerative lumbar artifacts (osteophytes, abdominal aortic calcification [AAC], scoliosis) can falsely elevate bone mineral density on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). We assessed the resulting discordance in bone density classification in older Turkish men. Material and Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study of 220 men aged 65–75 years, osteophytes, AAC, and scoliosis were assessed on DXA-blinded lumbar radiographs and scored 0–3. Lumbar and femoral neck T-scores were compared within subjects using World Health Organization categories. The primary outcome was reclassification to a lower bone density category at the femoral neck. Associations with reclassification were estimated by logistic regression adjusted for 14 confounders. Results: Artifacts were present in 181 of 220 men (82.3%; osteophytes 72.3%, AAC 38.6%, scoliosis 19.1%). The mean lumbar–femoral T-score difference was 1.27 units (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09–1.46), with poor agreement (weighted κ=0.37). Overall, 74 of 220 men (33.6%) were reclassified to a lower bone density category at the femoral neck. Reclassification varied across artifact score groups (p for trend=0.03), as did T-score discordance (p for trend=0.001). Osteophytes were associated with 13.0% higher L4 bone mineral density (95% CI 7.1–20.0). AAC was the only artifact independently associated with reclassification (adjusted relative risk 1.75, 95% CI 1.23–2.51), and the only variable retained by elastic-net and LASSO. Conclusion: One-third of older Turkish men had a lower bone density category at the femoral neck than at the lumbar spine, with AAC being the artifact most strongly associated with this reclassification. The femoral neck warrants particular attention in older men with spinal degeneration, especially when AAC is present.

Özet

Amaç: Dejeneratif lomber artefaktlar (osteofit, abdominal aort kalsifikasyonu [AAK], skolyoz) çift enerjili X-ışını absorbsiyometrisinde (DXA) kemik mineral yoğunluğunu (KMY) yanlış yüksek gösterebilir. Yaşlı Türk erkeklerinde bu duruma bağlı osteoporoz yanlış sınıflandırılma oranını belirlemeyi amaçladık. Gereç ve Yöntem: Retrospektif kesitsel tasarımlı bu çalışmaya 65–75 yaş arası 220 erkek dahil edildi. DXA sonuçlarına kör değerlendirilen lomber radyografilerde osteofit, AAK ve skolyoz varlığı 0–3 arasında skorlandı. Dünya Sağlık Örgütü kriterlerine göre lomber ve femur boynu T-skorları bireyler içinde karşılaştırıldı. Birincil sonlanım, femur boynunda lomber omurgaya kıyasla daha düşük kemik yoğunluğu kategorisine yeniden sınıflandırılma oranıydı. Yeniden sınıflandırma ile ilişkiler, 14 karıştırıcıya göre düzeltilmiş çok değişkenli lojistik regresyon ile değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Artefakt sıklığı %82,3 olarak saptandı (181/220; osteofit %72,3, AAK %38,6, skolyoz %19,1). Lomber ve femur boynu T-skorları arasındaki ortalama fark 1,27 birim (%95 güven aralığı [GA] 1,09–1,46) olup uyum zayıftı (ağırlıklı κ = 0,37). 220 olgunun 74'ü (%33,6) femur boynunda daha düşük kemik yoğunluğu kategorisine yeniden sınıflandı. Yeniden sınıflandırma oranı artefakt skoru grupları arasında farklılık gösterdi (eğilim p=0,03). T-skoru uyumsuzluğu için de aynı eğilim izlendi (eğilim p=0,001). Osteofit varlığında L4 KMY %13,0 daha yüksekti (%95 GA 7,1–20,0). Yeniden sınıflandırma ile bağımsız olarak ilişkili tek artefakt AAK idi (düzeltilmiş rölatif risk 1,75, %95 GA 1,23–2,51). Elastik-net ve LASSO ile korunan tek değişken de AAK oldu. Sonuç: Yaşlı Türk erkeklerinin üçte birinde femur boynu kemik yoğunluğu kategorisi lomber omurgaya kıyasla daha düşük bulundu ve bu durumla en güçlü ilişkili artefakt AAK oldu. Spinal dejenerasyonu olan, özellikle de AAK bulunan yaşlı erkeklerde femur boynu ölçümleri ayrı bir dikkat gerektirmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Levent, M., Gecegelen, E., Güngör, M., Eşme, M., Balcı, C., Doğu, B. B., Cankurtaran, M., Halil, M. G. (2026). DXA Misclassification from Degenerative Artifacts in Older Turkish Men. Hitit Medical Journal, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 3, 651–663. https://doi.org/10.52827/hititmedj.1936724

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