title: [Quantitative computerized tomography in the study of osteoporosis. Our experience].
abstract: In the diagnosis of osteoporosis there are, today, several techniques for investigating bone mineral density. In this work the authors evaluate the sensitivity of Computed Tomography in the diagnosis of this metabolic disease, because of the built-in competence of this method in determining the density of the anatomical tissues. In a randomised study the Authors performed Single Energy Quantitative Computed Tomography (SEQCT) in estimating the bone mineral density of lumbar vertebrae in 44 female patients. The data obtained were correlated, using the Student "t" test, to the measurements acquired, in the same group of patients, employing Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA), 27 patients, and Total Body DEXA, 17 patients. Results revealed a good correlation between SEQCT and DEXA (R = 0.89) and statistical significance (p < 0.001). On the contrary there is not a good correlation (R = 0.58) if SEQCT is compared to Total Body DEXA. According to our experience Quantitative Computed Tomography is useful in diagnosis osteoporosis and it should be performed in all post-menopausal patients. This method, which has a high level of precision, is cheap and easily adaptable to every Computed Tomography. Because of the high X-ray dose rate, only DEXA should be performed in monitoring patients undergoing therapy.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Radiologia, Università degli Studi di Torino.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mecozzi
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Anselmetti
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals
vernacular_title: La tomografia computerizzata quantitativa nello studio dell'osteoporosi. Nostra esperienza.