title: Use of cone beam computed tomography in identifying postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
abstract: The aim of this study is to correlate radiometric indices from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. Quantitative CBCT indices can be used to screen for women with low BMD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by the deterioration of bone tissue and the consequent decrease in BMD and increase in bone fragility. Several studies have been performed to assess radiometric indices in panoramic images as low-BMD predictors. The aim of this study is to correlate radiometric indices from CBCT images and BMD in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty postmenopausal women with indications for dental implants and CBCT evaluation were selected. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was performed, and the patients were divided into normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Cross-sectional images were used to evaluate the computed tomography mandibular index (CTMI), the computed tomography index (inferior) (CTI (I)) and computed tomography index (superior) (CTI (S)). Student's t test was used to compare the differences between the indices of the groups' intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis showed a high degree of interobserver and intraobserver agreement for all measurements (ICC > 0.80). The mean values of CTMI, CTI (S), and CTI (I) were lower in the osteoporosis group than in osteopenia and normal patients (p < 0.05). In comparing normal patients and women with osteopenia, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean value of CTI (I) (p = 0.075).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative CBCT indices may help dentists to screen for women with low spinal and femoral bone mineral density so that they can refer postmenopausal women for bone densitometry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil. cbbrasileiro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Brasileiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: L L F H
authors.initials: LLFH
authors.lastname: Chalub
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: M H N G
authors.initials: MHNG
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Barreiros
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: T M P
authors.initials: TMP
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.affiliation: Department of Locomotor System, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Alfredo Balena, 190/291, Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30130-100, Brazil.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kakehasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mesquita
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017698:Postmenopause
keywords: Bone mineral density; Cone beam computed tomography; Mandibular indices; Postmenopausal women