Soft-tissue measurements at the index finger in postmenopausal women on long-term oestrogen treatment

Measurements of the soft-tissue at the index finger on X-rays were made in 33 women after a natural menopause and who were on a long-term oestrogen replacement therapy for at least 5 yr. The data were compared with values obtained in an age-sex matched control group. The oestrogen treated women had a soft-tissue thickness (total finger width minus phalanx width) significantly smaller than the control group. The soft-tissue index (the ratio width of the phalanx to the total finger width) was significantly larger than expected. The soft-tissue values observed in the oestrogen treated subjects correspond to those observed in premenopausal women.