[Mass-screenings for osteoporosis using computed X-ray densitometry (CXD): in a mobile unit]

The early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis is considered to be important for the prevention of fractures which often cause elderly to become bed-ridden. Computed X-ray densitometry (CXD), a method to measure bone mineral content in the metacarpus II utilizing a simple X-ray image, has been used for mass-screening of osteoporosis, because of its utility and reliability. However, due to its requiring adequate X-ray equipment, this method is often unsuitable for use in small facilities in a remote mountain areas. The use of CXD for osteoporosis screening, was attempted in a mobile unit for tuberculosis screening, by our public health center. The results showed that it is possible to use CXD in combination with a mobile unit, correcting the obtained values according to the radiographic conditions. With this set-up, CXD was used for mass-screening of osteoporosis in a total of 1150 subjects living in mountainous areas of Yoshino-gun, Nara prefecture, and CXD was found to be convenient and effective for mass-screening. The use of CXD in a mobile chest X-ray unit can be expected to be useful for mass-screening of osteoporosis especially in remote mountainous areas having inadequate X-ray equipment.