An innovative approach in osteoporosis opportunistic screening by the dental practitioner: the use of cervical vertebrae and cone beam computed tomography with its viewer program

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for predicting osteoporosis based on the cervical vertebrae CBCT-derived radiographic density (RD) using the CBCT-viewer program.

Study design: CBCT scans (WhiteFox, de Gotzen S.r.l device, distributed by Satelec-Acteon Group, Italy) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry examinations of 38 women who participated in an earlier investigation were examined. A coronal slice, subjectively determined from the cervical vertebrae, was selected and the RD as gray values for the first and second vertebrae, and the dens was calculated by using CBCT-viewer software (WhiteFox imaging).

Results: The CBCT-derived RD values of the dens and the left part of the first cervical vertebra showed the strongest correlation coefficients (r=0.7, 0.6; P<.001) and the highest sensitivity (76.9%, 70%), specificity (92%, 92.9%), and accuracy (90.8%, 86.4%) in predicting osteoporosis in the lumbar vertebrae and the femoral neck, respectively.

Conclusions: CBCT-derived RD of cervical vertebrae can predict osteoporosis status using a CBCT-viewer program. This finding should be confirmed on other CBCT devices.