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

ObjectivesTo 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 DesignCBCT 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).ResultsThe 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.ConclusionsCBCT-derived RD of cervical vertebrae can predict osteoporosis status using a CBCT-viewer program. This finding should be confirmed on other CBCT devices.