[Diagnosis of osteoporosis by lateral chest X-ray]

Lateral chest X-rays may be helpful in the early detection of osteoporotic patients. We studied the proportion of chest X-ray reports in which the radiologist highlighted the presence of vertebral osteoporotic signs, as well as the proportion of patients with such records who were further studied by their physicians in order to confirm the diagnosis of osteoporosis.

We reviewed both lateral chest X-ray records of 3,500 consecutive patients and their medical records with the ultimate diagnosis.

Radiology reports referred to the presence of vertebral abnormalities suggestive of osteoporosis in only 20% of potentially expected cases. Final medical records registered a diagnosis of osteoporosis in only one third of positive radiological records (6.3% of expected cases with vertebral abnormalities). Only two thirds of patients diagnosed with vertebral osteoporosis by their physician were adequately treated (4% of positive lateral chest X-ray reports).

Osteoporosis is a disease overlooked by both radiologists and clinicians. Lateral chest X-ray is a helpful diagnostic tool for osteoporosis but its usefulness is often