title: Evaluation of cortical bone mass, thickness and density by z-scores in osteopenic conditions and in relation to menopause and estrogen treatment.
abstract: Z-scores express differences from normals in standard deviation units, and are particularly useful for comparison of changes where normal values are age- and sex-dependent. We determined z-scores for bone mineral mass, cortical thickness, and bone mineral density in the radius in various conditions and diseases in both sexes. In the males, z-scores were calculated for age, but in the females z-scores for menopausal status (years postmenopausal exclusive of years on estrogen treatment) were found to be more appropriate. With few exceptions, changes in a disease were of a similar order in both sexes. For bone mineral mass few mean z-scores were significantly increased, but diseases with significantly decreased mean z-scores were numerous. The usefulness of z-scores in diagnosis and study of metabolic bone disease is discussed.
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens