“We believe that opportunistic BMD testing using routine CT scans can be done with little change to normal clinical practice and with the benefit of identifying individuals with a greater fracture rate,” Dr. Therkildsen said.

Although the researchers used cardiac CT images in the study, in theory any CT images that include a view of relevant bone structures could be used for measuring BMD. The development of fully automated software for BMD measurements further enhances the adaptability and convenience of this approach.


Additional research will help pin down the optimal BMD cut-off values for treatment while providing more data on fracture risk based on gender and areas of the body. The impact of clinical risk factors in combination with BMD measured from CT scans for the assessment of fracture risk would also benefit further study.

“Our research group is dedicated to extend the research in this field, as we believe it should be added to clinical practice,” Dr. Therkildsen said.

“Thoracic Bone Mineral Density Derived from Cardiac CT Is Associated with Greater Fracture Rate.” Collaborating with Dr. Therkildsen were Louise Nissen, M.D., Ph.D., Hanne S. Jørgensen, M.D., Ph.D., Jesper Thygesen, M.Sc., Per Ivarsen, M.D., Ph.D., Lars Frost, M.D., Ph.D., D.M.Sc., Christin Isaksen, M.D., Bente L. Langdahl, M.D., Ph.D., D.M.Sc., Ellen-Margrethe Hauge, M.D., Ph.D., Morten Boettcher, M.D., Ph.D., and Simon Winther, M.D., Ph.D.

Radiology is edited by David A. Bluemke, M.D., Ph.D., University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, and owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc.


About RSNA
RSNA is an association of radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.

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