Radiographic anthropometry in patients with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia.

Abstract

This study investigated the diagnostic value of radiographic anthropometry in patients with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED). In 15 children of one family with MED (12 affected, three unaffected), all of whom were less than 16 years old, measurements were made of the distal femoral metaphysis and epiphysis on standard anteroposterior radiographs of the knee. In each individual, the height of the epiphysis was plotted against the width of both the epiphysis and the metaphysis. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. In 11 of 12 children with MED, the plotted values were more than 2 SDs below the mean. Sensitivity was 92%, specificity was 100%, and positive predictive value was 100%. Anthropometry is useful to detect involvement of a child in a family with MED. For this particular family, anthropometry had a high positive predictive value.