title: Can abdominal multi-detector CT diagnose spinal osteoporosis?
abstract: The aim of this study was to (1) generate quantitative CT (QCT) densitometric data based on routine abdominal multi-detector (MDCT) examinations and (2) investigate whether these data can be used to differentiate osteoporotic from healthy females. Twenty-five female patients (group A) with a history of radiotherapy were examined both with routine abdominal MDCT and standard QCT to generate a MDCT-to-QCT conversion equation. Twenty-one osteoporotic (group B) and 23 healthy female patients (group C) were also recruited in the study. Patients of groups B and C underwent routine abdominal MDCT examination for various clinical indications. Mean bone mineral density (BMD) in patients of group A was 103.4 mg/ml +/- 32.8 with routine abdominal MDCT and 91.0 mg/ml +/- 28.5 with QCT. Quantitative CT BMD(QCT) values for patients in groups B and C were calculated utilizing the BMD(MDCT) values derived from routine abdominal MDCT data sets and the MDCT to QCT conversion equation: BMD(QCT)=0:78 x BMD(MDCT) + 10:13. The calculated QCT densitometric data adequately differentiated osteoporotic from healthy females (area under ROC curve 0.828, p = 0.05). In conclusion, this study showed that in a group of female patients, QCT data derived from routine abdominal MDCT examinations discriminated osteoporotic from healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Crete, Greece. apapadak@edu.med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: Antonios E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Papadakis
authors.forename: Apostolos H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Karantanas
authors.forename: Giorgos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papadokostakis
authors.forename: Effie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petinellis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Damilakis
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*