Abstract
A digital image processing (DIP) method has been developed as a simple and easily available means of assessing the bone mineral density (BMD) of the metacarpals. This study was conducted to examine the usefulness of the DIP method in mass-screening for osteoporosis. BMD of the metacarpals, the lumbar spine and the calcaneus were assessed by a DIP method, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and single X-ray absorptiometry (SXA), respectively, in 231 female residents of rural town. The presence or absence of compression fracture of the spinal column was roentagenographically studied.
The BMD of the metacarpals showed a significant correlation with that of the lumbar spine and calcaneus. Coefficients of correlation between DIP values and BMD of the lumbar spine (anterior-posterior view), DIP values and that of the lateral view, and DIP values and the calcaneus BMD were 0.47, 0.39 and 0.60, respectively. A DIP value of 2.18mmAl could detect women with low lumbar spinal BMD <0.897g/cm2, which included 90% of women with compression fracture.
The sensitivity and specificity of the DIP value were 65% and 72%, respectively. These results indicate that the DIP method provides an index for assessing spinal or calcaneal BMD and can be used as a criterion in screening for osteoporosis.
