Assessing quality and quantity of cortical bone in childhood cancer survivors using anthropometric indices

Evaluate mandibular cortical bone in childhood cancer survivors (CCS) and correlate findings with disease and treatment characteristics.

Dental panoramic radiographs of 60 CCS and of 120 age and gender-matched healthy individuals were assessed by two independent observers. Bone was categorized as normal, moderately or severely eroded and its width was calculated at four sites bilaterally. Significant differences were tested using Chi-square and Pearson correlation co-efficient. Possible risk factors were detected by multivariate regression analysis.

Forty five percent of CCS had moderately eroded bone, while 67% of healthy individuals normal bone. Mean width was 3.9 mm in CCS (1.9 mm-6.4 mm) and 2.7 mm in healthy controls (1.4 mm-6 mm). None of the above differences were significant. Survivors diagnosed at a younger age had a five times greater probability of presenting mildly eroded bone.

No direct effect of antineoplastic treatment on cortical bone could be demonstrated in the current study, underlying the need for more well-designed studies.