title: Trabecular bone structure of the distal radius, the calcaneus, and the spine: which site predicts fracture status of the spine best?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare trabecular bone structure measures obtained in magnetic resonance images of the distal radius and the calcaneus as well as computed tomographic images of the spine versus bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine and the calcaneus in the prediction of osteoporotic spine fracture status.
  
  
  METHODS
  High-resolution magnetic resonance images of the calcaneus and the distal radius and thin-section computed tomographic images of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae were obtained from 74 cadavers. Structure analysis was performed using parameters analogous to standard histomorphometry. BMD of the spine was determined by using quantitative computed tomography and of the calcaneus by using dual x-ray absorptiometry. Spine radiographs of these cadavers were assessed concerning vertebral deformities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diagnostic performance in differentiating fracture and nonfracture subjects was highest for structure parameters in the spine and slightly lower for these parameters in the distal radius and for BMD of the spine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study structure parameters in the spine were best suited to predict the osteoporotic fracture status of the spine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Munich, Germany. tmlink@radiology.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kollstedt
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stumpf
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hudelmaier
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Settles
authors.forename: Sharmila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Majumdar
authors.forename: Eva-Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lochmüller
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eckstein
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011884:Radius / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed