Findings on Testing for Bone Mineral Density

Data from three clinical studies examining the use of standard radiographic techniques to determine phalangeal bone mineral density (BMD) were presented at the 22nd annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research in Toronto.

The first study showed that bone densitometry software called OsteoGram was effective in segmenting phalangeal bones in standard hand x-rays. The second study suggested that standard radiographic techniques with minimal radiation exposure can be used to determine phalangeal BMD, and concluded that the OsteoGram provides an inexpensive way to determine BMD with conventional x-ray equipment. The third study suggested that phalangeal bone density determined from standard x-ray films using OsteoGram is precise.
The study concluded that standard radiographic techniques and intensifying screens can be used for the OsteoGram with consistent low precision error.

The data were presented by scientists from CompuMed, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA, USA), which developed the OsteoGram. The company has also developed computer-aided telemedicine services for cardiology and provides online computer interpretation of electrocardiograms to doctors and healthcare workers.