Phonton absorptiometry and skeletal mass in the treatment of osteoporosis

Thirty-six osteoporotic patients who underwent several therapeutic regimes were studied on two occasions by photon absorptiometry and total-body neutron activation analysis (TBNAA). These determinations were made at a mean interval of 8.9 plus or minus 0.8 months. The 8-cm radial site was chosen for the photon absorptiometry which was performed with the Norland-Instruments Densitometer. Mean initial bone mineral content (BMC) was 0.724 plus or minus 0.069 gm/cm and mean bone width was 1.235 plus or minus 0.072 cm. The mean percent change in BMC (%deltaBMC) was 1.02 plus or minus 4.2. The initial total-body calcium (TBCa) as determined by TBNAA was reduced when compared with values that would be expected from empirically derived formulas. The mean percent change in TB-Ca (%deltaTB-Ca) was -3.2 plus or minus 4.7. Most patients displayed a change in BMC and TB-Ca that was at least 2 s.d. greater than the precision of the methods used (%deltaTB-Ca greater than 2). No relationship was found between the deltaBMC and the deltaTB-Ca (r = 0.17). These findings suggest that changes in the radical BMC at the 8-cm site cannot be extrapolated to indicate changes in skeletal mass in response to treatment of osteoporosis. Whether photon absorptiometry at other sites or at multiple sites provides a closer relationship to changes in skeletal mass (TB-Ba) remains to be determined.