title: An unusual cause of spinal bone loss detected by DXA scanning.
abstract: Routine DXA scanning in a 68-year-old asymptomatic man undergoing long-term bisphosphonate treatment for osteogenesis imperfecta showed unexplained loss of bone mineral density in two lumbar vertebrae. Subsequent radiographs revealed a 14-cm abdominal aortic aneurysm eroding the vertebrae. The importance of reviewing all the vertebrae in DXA scans is emphasized, and reasons for the absence of symptoms suggested.
authors.affiliation: Charles Salt Centre for Human Metabolism, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital, Oswestry, Shropshire, UK SY10 7AG.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: M W J
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Davie
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D010013:Osteogenesis Imperfecta / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077268:Pamidronate
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D000077268:Pamidronate