[Radiological observations on bone changes in women after bilateral ovariectomy with and without oestrogen prophylaxis (author's transl)].

A retrospective study was carried out on 69 women who had hysterectomies and bilateral ovariectomies carried out during puberty for non-malignant disease. The effect of oestrogen prophylaxis on bones was studied by various radiological methods (1. Miminal combined cortex thickness in the proximal radius according to Meema; 2. Biconcavity index according to Nordin; 3. Osteoporosis stage in the lumbar spine according to Saville; 4. The Singh index in the proximal femur and 5. Absorption coefficient and relative cortical thickness of the phalanges). It was found the the hormone-treated group (33 cases) showed significantly greater bone density than the control group (36 cases). It is therefore suggested that women undergoing ovariectomy before the menopause, or those with low bone density at the natural menopause, should be treated by long-term oestrogen therapy, provided there are no specific contraindications.