Computed radiographic absorptiometry and morphometry in the assessment of postmenopausal bone loss

Abstract

The best method for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and assessment of fracture risk is currently considered to be bone densitometry. The most commonly used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) methods may sometimes not predict bone mass accurately in every skeletal site, are expensive and not widely available. The recent development of computed analysis of a plain radiograph of the hand might provide a practical, inexpensive and rapid method for evaluation of bone mineral status. In this study we evaluated 20 healthy premenopausal and 660 postmenopausal women. In 36 of these subjects a second evaluation was carried out after 2 years of therapy with calcium supplements. The internal and external diameters of the second metacarpal and the metacarpal and ultradistal radial bone density were evaluated using a technical device developed in our laboratory and marketed by NIM, Verona, Italy (Osteoradiometer). The radiographic images, captured by a video camera, were digitized and studied by computed analysis. In 150 subjects bone density at the level of the lumbar spine, femur, and ultradistal and proximal radius was also measured by DXA techniques. Both external (D) and internal (d) diameters increase significantly with age and years since menopause (YSM), whereas metacarpal index (D--d/D) and metacarpal and ultradistal radial bone density decrease significantly with age and YSM. The ratio between metacarpal bone mineral content and the cortical area (volumetric metacarpal bone density) did not change with age. Significant correlations were found between radiometric findings and DXA measurements. The best correlation coefficients were between bone density measured at the level of the ultradistal radius by DXA and radiographic absorptiometry. In the 2-year follow-up study, a 4.9% and 6.2% decline in radial metacarpal bone density respectively were observed, but the difference was statistically significant only for the latter. In conclusion, computed radiogrammetry is closely correlated with all DXA measurements and may be useful in screening of large populations, providing a simple, inexpensive and sufficiently precise method for evaluation of bone mineral status. Further studies are warranted for assessing the accuracy of radiogrammetry for longitudinal investigations and its capacity to predict fracture risk.

Identification of homogeneous genetic architecture of multiple genetically correlated traits by block clustering of genome-wide associations

“…(54) Metacarpal bone geometry measures also had been used in epidemiologic research as well as in primary care to identify patients with osteoporosis. (55)(56)(57) We also included the lean mass measures because the loss of muscle mass with age (''sarcopenia'') is accompanied by a decrease in muscle strength and reduced loading of the skeleton. (58) Using the biclustering approach, we found a strong cluster of high-magnitude coefficients and/or lower p values for some bone traits associated with a subset of SNPs.…”

Evaluation of cortical thickness and bone density by roentgen microdensitometry in growing males and females

“…With this technique the radiographic images are "captured" by a video camera and the grey levels of the digitalised image can be quantified against the reference standard. This allows a more accurate measurement of the cortical area based on an objective method (threshold grey gradient) and the evaluation of BD, which appear to be significantly related with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) measurements [1].…”

“…The CV within the same X-ray was 1.5%, 1.1% and 1.8% for the MI, metacarpal BD and radial BD respectively. The CV between the two X-ray pictures was 5%, 5.1%, 6.5% for metacarpal index, metacarpal volumetric BD and radial volumetric BD respectively [1]. In 19 subjects a lateral-oblique X-ray of the radius and of the second metacarpus were also taken.…”

A four year dose-response study of recombinant human growth hormone treatment of growth hormone deficient children: effects on growth, bone growth and bone mineralization

“…With this technique the images are 'captured' by a video camera and the grey levels of the digitalized image can be quantified against the reference standard. This allows a more accurate measurement of the cortical area based on an objective method (threshold grey gradient) and the evaluation of BMD, which appears to be significantly related to dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) measurements (21). With this method we measured the outer diameter (D), the inner diameter (d), the length of the II metacarpus and the bone mineral content of its middle region (BMCm).…”