Combining DXA, Quantitative CT Makes for Most Effective Osteoporosis Diagnosis

A study published in Radiology determined the combination of conventional dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screening for osteoporosis with quantitative computed tomography (CT) beginning at age 55 could lower a woman's lifetime risk of hip fracture while offering cost-effective prevention, reports Radiology Business . The researchers used TreeAge Pro modeling software to construct a virtual, hypothetical cohort of 1 million post-menopausal women who all had risk factors for fracture. Should the subjects meet existing criteria for osteoporosis, they were assumed to be treated with oral bisphosphonates. The team found DXA plus quantitative CT reduced a woman's lifetime risk of hip fracture to 12.8 percent while also being cost-effective. Women who waived screening had an 18.7 percent lifetime risk of hip fracture, while those screened with DXA alone had a 15.8 percent risk.