Advantages of peripheral radiogrametry over dual-photon absorptiometry of the spine in the assessment of prevalence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures in women.

Since osteoporosis develops in most postmenopausal women and is probably the most important single factor in the pathogenesis of osteoporotic fractures of the spine, hip, and wrist (and at other sites), methods suitable for mass screening should be developed. In this study of 97 women aged 24-79, measurements of the lumbar spine mineral content by dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA) were compared with the summed combined cortical thickness measurements from radiographs of the radius and metacarpal II (MR). There was good correlation between the two methods (r = 0.90). The correlation of age with MR was higher than with DPA. The correlation of years postmenopause was significant with MR but not with DPA. Taking the -2 SD level of the premenopausal means to be previously established vertebral fracture thresholds, 24% of the DPA measurements, but no MR measurements in patients with vertebral compressions, were above the fracture threshold. Since MR measurement requires taking only two small plain radiographs using ordinary x-ray equipment, it is concluded that this less expensive method is better suited to screening for osteoporotic vertebral fracture risk in postmenopausal women than DPA.