Bone mineral density distribution pattern of vertebra

Interpretation of bone mineral density (BMD) values is sometimes difficult, since the vertebrae are often heterogeneous and BMD merely represents an average value from one region of interest. To overcome this limitation, the authors of this paper designed a CT classification of vertebral density distribution pattern. The pattern was classified into five types from axial images obtained on a Somatom DR-H scanner: type 1, normal; type 2, osteopenia; type 3, diffuse osteosclerosis; type 4, spotty osteosclerosis; and type 5, central osteosclerosis. BMD was measured by means of the DEQCT method. Included in this study were patients undergoing hemodialysis (n = 152), postgastrectomy patients (n = 43), patients with collagen disease (n = 96), patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (n = 8), and others, as well as the control group (n = 129)