Mandibular CT-Based radiomorphometric and density indices for opportunistic osteoporosis screening

TL;DR

This study shows that CT scans of the jaw can help identify osteoporosis, offering a potential new screening method.

Contribution

The study introduces mandibular CT-based radiomorphometric and density indices as a novel opportunistic screening tool for osteoporosis.

Findings

Radiomorphometric indices and HU values were significantly lower in osteoporotic individuals.

Threshold values for CTMI, CTI(S), and CTI(I) showed high sensitivity and specificity for osteoporosis detection.

The mandibular angle HU threshold had the highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC: 0.857).

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the association between mandibular radiomorphometric indices (CTMI, CTI(S), CTI(I)) and trabecular Hounsfield Unit (HU) values obtained from computed tomography (CT) scans with osteoporosis as defined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

This retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Fırat University, using routine head and neck CT scans. All participants underwent DEXA at the L1–L4 vertebral levels according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. The osteoporosis group consisted of 50 patients with a T-score ≤ −2.5 and a clinical diagnosis of osteoporosis by the Physical Therapy Department, while the control group comprised 50 individuals with T-scores ≥ −1 and no diagnosis of osteoporosis. Bilateral measurements of CTMI, CTI(S), and CTI(I) were averaged, and HU values were recorded from predefined mandibular regions.

All radiomorphometric indices and HU values were significantly lower in osteoporotic individuals compared to the control group. ROC analysis demonstrated threshold values for CTMI ≤ 3.35 mm (sensitivity: 86%, specificity: 98%), CTI(I) ≤ 0.36 (sensitivity: 78%, specificity: 92%), and CTI(S) ≤ 0.27 (sensitivity: 78%, specificity: 98%). Threshold HU values were observed as ≤ 337 for the mandibular angle, ≤ 209 for the mandibular corpus, and ≤ 470 for the interradicular area between teeth 3 and 4. Among these regions, the mandibular angle showed the highest area under the curve (AUC: 0.857; sensitivity: 90%).

Mandibular CT-derived radiomorphometric and densitometric measurements are associated with osteoporosis as defined by DEXA and may provide complementary information within an opportunistic screening framework.

Not applicable. This retrospective study did not require registration in a clinical trial registry.

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