INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is considered an osteometabolic disorder that is characterized by the reduction of bone mineral density and deterioration of bone microarchitecture resulting in an increase of bone fragility and fracture risk. The technique considered as gold standard to measure bone mineral density is Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Nevertheless, high cost and consequently the limited access to the modality by the population make the diagnosis difficult, leading to a higher number of patients with fracture and its consequences. OBJECTIVE: The general objective of this paper is to study the viability of digital radiography of lumbar spine as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for osteoporosis. METHODOLOGY: This study was carried out with 64 patients (4 male and 60 female) assessed by digital radiography and densitometry concerning the presence of osteoporosis or osteopenia. The radiographies were analyzed independently by three experienced radiologists, and modal classification was considered in case of report divergence. RESULTS: According to the Kappa coefficient, the agreement level between these two techniques is low. Radiography sensitivity and specificity for osteopenia/osteoporosis diagnosis was estimated as 85% and 16.7%, respectively, considering densitometry as the gold standard. CONCLUSION: Digital radiography showed to be a sensitive technique to verify if vertebra condition is normal or altered, however, it is little specific in the distinction between osteopenia and osteoporosis. Densitometry was more specific in the diagnosis of osteopenia and osteoporosis, but in cases with complication such as vertebra fracture, the radiography showed to be the best method.
Osteoporosis; Densitometry; Radiography; Bone Diseases Metabolic
