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. 2022 Jul;89(7):692-698.
doi: 10.1007/s12098-021-04009-8. Epub 2022 Feb 1.

Near-Adult Heights and Adult Height Predictions Using Automated and Conventional Greulich-Pyle Bone Age Determinations in Children with Chronic Endocrine Diseases

Daniela Choukair  1 , Annette Hückmann  2 , Janna Mittnacht  2 , Thomas Breil  2 , Jens Peter Schenk  3 , Abdulsattar Alrajab  3 , Lorenz Uhlmann  4 , Markus Bettendorf  2
Affiliations

Near-Adult Heights and Adult Height Predictions Using Automated and Conventional Greulich-Pyle Bone Age Determinations in Children with Chronic Endocrine Diseases

Daniela Choukair et al. Indian J Pediatr. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Objectives: To validate adult height predictions (BX) using automated and Greulich-Pyle bone age determinations in children with chronic endocrine diseases.

Methods: Heights and near-adult heights were measured in 82 patients (48 females) with chronic endocrinopathies at the age of 10.45 ± 2.12 y and at time of transition to adult care (17.98 ± 3.02 y). Further, bone age (BA) was assessed using the conventional Greulich-Pyle (GP) method by three experts, and by BoneXpert™. PAH were calculated using conventional BP tables and BoneXpert™.

Results: The conventional and the automated BA determinations revealed a mean difference of 0.25 ± 0.72 y (p = 0.0027). The automated PAH by BoneXpert™ were 156.26 ± 0.86 cm (SDS - 2.01 ± 1.07) in females and 171.75 ± 1.6 cm (SDS - 1.29 ± 1.06) in males, compared to 153.95 ± 1.12 cm (SDS - 2.56 ± 1.5) in females and 169.31 ± 1.6 cm (SDS - 1.66 ± 1.56) in males by conventional BP, respectively and in comparison to near-adult heights 156.38 ± 5.84 cm (SDS - 1.91 ± 1.15) in females and 168.94 ± 8.18 cm (SDS - 1.72 ± 1.22) in males, respectively.

Conclusion: BA ratings and adult height predictions by BoneXpert™ in children with chronic endocrinopathies abolish rater-dependent variability and enhance reproducibility of estimates thereby refining care in growth disorders. Conventional methods may outperform automated analyses in specific cases.

Keywords: Adult height predictions; Automated bone age; Children with chronic endocrine diseases; Greulich–Pyle.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Bland–Altman plot demonstrates the relationship between automated and conventional bone age ratings (mean of three independent ratings). The differences between the two methods are depicted against the mean of these two methods. The dashed lines indicate 2 SD
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Near-adult heights (cm) and adult height predictions (cm) using the tables of Bayley– Pinneau and conventionally determined bone age according to Greulich and Pyle (conventional BP), and by BoneXpert™ (automated BX), respectively are depicted. Mean ± SD, *indicating p < 0.05. (SDS—Near-final heights: Females: –1.91 ± 1.15; Males: –1.72 ± 1.22; PAH GP conventional Females: –2.56 ± 1.5; Males: –1.66 ± 1.56; PAH BoneXpert ™ Females: –2.01 ± 1.07; Males: –1.29 ± 1.06)
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