Tablets
This Hologic lumbar spine image shows artifacts to the left of L1-L2.
On the undo view it is seen that the artiacts would be removed from the soft tissue baseline.
This abdominal flat plate was taken approximately 1 hour after the lumbar spine DXA. The patient admitted to taking calcium supplements prior to the DXA scan and on the radiograph the artifacts have moved which is consistent with the artifacts being calcium tablets.
Case Description:
There are artifacts lateral to L1-L2 on the left. The patient had just taken calcium supplements prior to getting a DXA scan. The undo view shows that the artiacts were mapped and were removed from the soft tissue baseline. The accompany abdominal radiograph, approximatey 1 hour after the DXA scan shows that the artifacts have moved, supporting the contention that the artifacts are calcium tablets. It is recommended that patients not take calcium supplements prior to a DXA scan. Even if the calcium supplements are not visible, the bone mineral density may be affected.
Credit:
Sarah L Morgan, MD, RD, CCD, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
References:
• Kendler, D.L., et al., Effect of calcium tablets on interpretation of lumbar spine DXA scans. J Clin Densitom, 2006. 9(1): p. 7-104.
• Krueger, D., et al., Calcium supplement ingestion may alter lumbar spine bone mineral density measurement. J Clin Densitom, 2006. 9(2): p. 159-6
• Kendler, D., et al., Strontium supplements: assessment of tablets by DXA. . J Clin Densitom, 2007. 10(2): p. S203