title: Use of digital panoramic radiography as an auxiliary means of low bone mineral density detection in post-menopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To correlate the radiomorphometric indices obtained using digital panoramic radiography (DPR) with bone mineral densities, evaluated by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry test, in a population of post-menopausal females to identify patients with asymptomatic low bone mineral densities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The morphology of the mandibular cortex was evaluated using the mandibular cortical index (MCI) and the inferior mandibular cortex width was evaluated using the mental index (MI) in 64 female patients who had undergone dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry assessment. Of these patients, 21 were diagnosed with osteopaenia and 20 with osteoporosis, and 23 were normal. Three new indices for evaluating the inferior mandibular cortex width were designed: the mental posterior index 1 (MPI1), MPI2 and MPI3. Statistical analyses were performed using the χ(2) and Kruskal-Wallis tests and the receiver operating characteristic curve.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences between the normal and lower bone mineral density groups (osteopaenia and osteoporosis) for MCI (p < 0.01). In the osteoporosis group, the MI, MPI1, MPI2 and MPI3 were significantly different from the normal and osteopaenia groups (p < 0.05). The MI, MPI1, MPI2 and MPI3 showed that there is an area in the mandibular cortex, located between the mental foramen and the antegonial region, which is valid for identifying females at high risk for osteoporosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MCI, MI, MPI1, MPI2, and MPI3 radiomorphometric indices evaluated using DPR can be used to identify post-menopausal females with low bone densities and to provide adequate medical treatment for them.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Pontificial Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Valerio
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Trindade
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Mazzieiro
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Manzi
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D012372:ROC Curve; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: bone density; control; osteoporosis; panoramic radiography; prevention