Correspondence
Dr. S.C. Bansal, Lecturer (Radio-diagnosis),
PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.
Email: scbansal38@gmail.com; Mob: +91-9914209389

Introduction: Both QCT and DEXA scanners are being used for determination of BMD in lumbar spine in the diagnosis of osteoporosis. But till now, no consensus has been reached that out of QCT or DEXA scanner which modality is most efficacious in the diagnosis of osteoporosis.

Objectives: To evaluate BMD in lumbar spine of the same subjects under similar conditions both by QCT and DEXA scanners on the same day and to compare their findings in evaluating these subjects as osteoporotic, osteopenic or normal.

Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study a population of 165 subjects both male and female which included 37 young healthy volunteers, 46 post menopausal females, 32 elderly patients above 65 years of age, 15 patients between 40- 65 years of age and 35 patients on steroid therapy for more than 6 months period underwent bone densitometry both by QCT and DEXA scanners. Light Speed Plus CT scanner of GE and DEXA scanner Norland XR 46 were used for measurement of BMD and accordingly, these subjects were diagnosed as osteoporotic, osteopenic and normal on the basis of WHO defined criteria of T score.

Results: In the present study QCT has diagnosed more cases of osteoporosis (both osteopenic and osteoporotic) as compared to DEXA lateral and DEXA AP in the total population as well as in females and males separately. In the total population, 67.3% (111) cases were diagnosed for osteoporosis by QCT as compared to 46.7% (77) and 49.7% (82) cases by DEXA lateral and DEXA AP respectively. In females, 75.8% (97) cases were diagnosed for osteoporosis by QCT as compared to 52.3% (67) each by DEXA lateral & DEXA AP. Similarly in males 37.8% (14) cases were diagnosed for osteoporosis by QCT as compared to 27% (10 ) cases by DEXA lateral and 40.6% (15 ) cases by DEXA AP.

Conclusion: Both the modalities confirm the direct correlation between age and osteoporosis, as with increasing age the risk of prevalence of osteoporosis increased across all age groups. But QCT has been found to be more efficacious than DEXA scan in the diagnosis of osteoporosis i.e. QCT helps discriminate between normal subjects and those with osteoporosis better than DEXA-lateral and DEXA-AP.

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