[Determination of vertebral fracture threshold by measuring bone mineral content in the lumbar vertebrae].
Bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar vertebrae (L2-L4) was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA: QDR-1000), and the values obtained were compared with the frequency of vertebral fracture as assessed by spinal X-ray photographs. Patients with spondylosis or scoliosis, which affect BMD values, were excluded from the study. An essentially linear correlation was observed between the frequency of vertebral fracture and lumbar BMD values: no vertebral fractures were observed in those whose BMD more than 0.8 g/cm2, whereas the frequency of fracture was 100% in patients whose BMD was less than 0.45 g/cm2. Thus, measurement of lumbar vertebrae by DEXA would be very useful in predicting vertebral fractures.
Yuh
I
I
Department of Radiology, Shiga University of Medical Science.
Yamamoto
I
I
Ohnaka
Y
Y
Takada
M
M
Masuda
K
K
Murata
K
K
Shigei
M
M
Koshikawa
Y
Y
Morita
R
R
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology*