title: Correlation between degenerative spine disease and bone marrow density: a retrospective investigation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spondylosis leads to an overestimation of bone mineral density (BMD) with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) but not with quantitative computed tomography (QCT). The correlation between degenerative changes of the spine and QCT-BMD was therefore investigated for the first time.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty-four patients (66 female and 68 male) with a mean age of 49.0 ± 14.6 years (range: 19-88 years) who received a CT scan and QCT-BMD measurements of spine and hip were evaluated retrospectively. The occurrence and severity of spondylosis, osteochondrosis, and spondylarthrosis and the height of the vertebral bodies were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A negative correlation was found between spinal BMD and number of spondylophytes (ρ = -0.35; p < 0.01), disc heights (r = -0.33; p < 0.01), number of discal air inclusions (ρ = -0.34; p < 0.01), the number of Schmorl nodules (ρ = -0.25; p < 0.01), the number (ρ = -0.219; p < 0.05) and the degree (ρ = -0.220; p < 0.05) of spondylarthrosis. Spinal and hip BMD correlated moderately, but the latter did not correlate with degenerative changes of the spine. In linear regression models age, osteochondrosis and spondylarthrosis were factors influencing spinal BMD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Degenerative spinal changes may be associated with reduced regional spinal mineralization. This knowledge could lead to a modification of treatment of degenerative spine disease with early treatment of osteopenia to prevent secondary fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria. astrid.grams@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Astrid Ellen
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Grams
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria. rafael.rehwald@student.i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rehwald
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria. alexander.bartsch@student.i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria. sarah.honold@student.i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honold
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria. christian.freyschlag@tirol-kliniken.at.
authors.forename: Christian Franz
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Freyschlag
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria. michael.knoflach@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knoflach
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria. elke.gizewski@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Elke Ruth
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Gizewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria. bernhard.glodny@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Glodny
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult