title: An innovative approach in osteoporosis opportunistic screening by the dental practitioner: the use of cervical vertebrae and cone beam computed tomography with its viewer program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for predicting osteoporosis based on the cervical vertebrae CBCT-derived radiographic density (RD) using the CBCT-viewer program.
  
  
  METHODS
  CBCT scans (WhiteFox, de Gotzen S.r.l device, distributed by Satelec-Acteon Group, Italy) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry examinations of 38 women who participated in an earlier investigation were examined. A coronal slice, subjectively determined from the cervical vertebrae, was selected and the RD as gray values for the first and second vertebrae, and the dens was calculated by using CBCT-viewer software (WhiteFox imaging).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CBCT-derived RD values of the dens and the left part of the first cervical vertebra showed the strongest correlation coefficients (r=0.7, 0.6; P<.001) and the highest sensitivity (76.9%, 70%), specificity (92%, 92.9%), and accuracy (90.8%, 86.4%) in predicting osteoporosis in the lumbar vertebrae and the femoral neck, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBCT-derived RD of cervical vertebrae can predict osteoporosis status using a CBCT-viewer program. This finding should be confirmed on other CBCT devices.
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria. Electronic address: Imadbarn@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Imad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barngkgei
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor of Dental Public Health and Oral Epidemiology, Oral Medicine Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria; Centre for Oral Growth and Development, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Easter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Joury
authors.affiliation: William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom; Royal London Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jawad
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity