Prediction of thigh skeletal muscle mass using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry compared to magnetic resonance imaging after spinal cord injury

This study aimed to determine if DXA, a less expensive and faster method, could accurately predict thigh muscle mass in people with SCI compared to MRI, the gold standard. The researchers also developed equations to predict thigh muscle mass from DXA scans, which could simplify muscle assessment in SCI patients. The study found that DXA measurements were in acceptable agreement with MRI and could be a viable alternative for assessing thigh muscle mass after SCI.

• 1
  DXA measurements were strongly correlated with MRI measurements for whole thigh muscle mass, absolute muscle mass (excluding intramuscular fat), and knee extensor muscle mass.
• 2
  DXA consistently overestimated lean mass compared to MRI, likely due to the inability of DXA to fully distinguish intramuscular fat from muscle tissue.
• 3
  The study derived SCI-specific equations to estimate total and absolute thigh muscle mass, as well as the mass of the knee extensor muscle group from DXA measurements.