title: Correlations between seven panoramic radiomorphometric indices and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to test for correlations of 7 panoramic radiomorphometric indices with lumbar spine and hip bone mineral densities (BMDs) and to test the accuracy of these indices for predicting osteoporosis and a T-score < or =-2.0.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mandibular cortical indices, simple visual estimations of cortical widths, mental and antegonial indices, antegonial depth, gonial and antegonial angles, and BMD were measured in 351 postmenopausal women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Associations were demonstrated between BMDs, qualitative indices, and cortical measurements. In the case of severely eroded mandibular cortices, the odds ratio (OR) for osteoporosis (according to the World Health Organization criteria) was 4.82 and the OR for a T-score < or =-2.0, the threshold to begin treatment, was 10.87. In the case of very thin mandibular cortices, the ORs were 8.02 and 5.46 for osteoporosis and a T-score < or =-2.0, respectively. The mental index cutoff for osteoporosis was 3.15 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antegonial indices and gonial angles cannot be used as osteoporosis predictors. The most accurate indices were the mental index, mandibular cortical index, and visual estimation of cortical width.
authors.affiliation: Oral Radiology, Department of Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil. andreleite@unb.br
authors.forename: André Ferreira
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Paulo Tadeu de Souza
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Cláudio Mares
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Guia
authors.forename: Nilce Santos
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Ana Patrícia
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: de Paula
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity