What is the effect of bowing of the legs on DXA scans?

• A. Improves scan accuracy
• B. Leads to poor bone edge detection
• C. Has no effect
• D. Reduces scanning time

Answer: (B)

Bowing of the legs can significantly impact the quality and accuracy of Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scans. When the legs are bowed, this anatomical variation can obscure the clear delineation of the bone edges within the region of interest being scanned. This bowing can cause overlapping of skeletal structures, making it more challenging for the DXA software to accurately identify the contours of the bones. As a result, the measurements obtained may not accurately reflect the true bone mineral density (BMD) of the individual, leading to potential misinterpretation of their bone health status.

Improper bone edge detection can result in weakened diagnostic utility, especially if there's significant curvature that interferes with the detection algorithms of the DXA scan. Ultimately, this could impact clinical decisions regarding the assessment of osteoporosis or other bone-related conditions. Therefore, understanding the influence of anatomical variations like leg bowing is crucial for accurate interpretation of DXA scan results.