[Morphometry and determination of corticodiaphyseal indices of the clavicles in the conventional chest x-ray in healthy humans and in bone diseases].

The cortical width of both clavicles was measured in 400 chest x-rays of normal people aged 20 to 70 years, and normal values for three so-called cortico-diaphyseal indeces have been established: 1) "combined cortical thickness" (CCT), 2) the "Barnett-Nordin index" (DNI), 3) "the bone areas index" (IBA). The results are in good agreement with those of other authors, eg. Virtama, Helelä, Kocian et al. This indicates that there are no significant variations amongst different European populations. In order to test the clinical usefulness of the method, the results were compared with measurements from 50 patients with secondary osteoporosis. Measurements of cortical thickness on the chest x-ray proved a simple and reliable method. Finally, brief reference is made to the possibility, and the problems, of measuring bone mineral content by computed tomography.