title: Metastatic lung cancer detected by lumbar bone densitometry: a case report.
abstract: A lumbar bone densitometry examination was performed in a patient with severe low back pain but no pathologic findings on initial laboratory and radiologic investigations. The bone mineral density of the spine was in the low-normal range (90.5% age matched), with the L4 vertebra bone mineral density less than the others, whereas image analysis showed a defect in the right part of its body. Additional radiographs confirmed this finding, which was proved to be a metastatic lesion from a primary lung cancer. Although not intended for diagnosis, the results of image analysis of bone densitometry should be evaluated carefully.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for the Research of Musculoskeletal System, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paspati
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Lyritis
mesh_terms: D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D003720:Densitometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*