Assessment of Radiomorphometric Indices on Digital Panoramic and Cone Beam Computed Tomographic Images in Osteoporotic Egyptian Females.

Abstract

Background and purpose:This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of radiomorphometric indices based on digital panoramic and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images as osteoporosis predictors in healthy and osteoporotic women. Methods: Twenty selected female volunteers were scanned by digital panoramic, dual Energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and CBCT scans. According to the DEXA results, they were categorized into either normal or osteopenic/osteoporotic group. The same measurements were performed on digital panoramic, and CBCT images by 3 observers and the average of each was calculated. Results: This study demonstrated that there was no significant correlation between the DEXA results with either panoramic or CBCT indices in the normal, osteopenic and osteoporotic groups. Conclusion: Within the limitation of the current study regarding the limited sample size, the bone of the mandible does not appear to reflect the characteristics of the skeleton as a whole. Panoramic Mandibular Index and Mental Index, with a larger sample size, may serve as prognostic osteoporosis indices.