A phantom for standardization and quality control in peripheral bone measurements by PQCT and DXA

A phantom consisting of water- and bone-equivalent solid materials was devised to test peripheral bone densitometry systems. A circular cross section with a diameter of 60 mm was chosen, with the sides flattened by 1 cm to model the forearm. Three inserts with precisely 50, 100 and 200 mg cm-3 hydroxyapatite simulate trabecular bone and provide the basis for the linearity check of PQCT systems. Density and thickness of the simulated compact bone is selected such that the phantom can also be used to calibrate DXA and SPA machines. Quality control with CT showed a homogeneously distributed trabecular bone with an average density that deviates less than 1 mg cm-3 from linearity. (author)