Analysis of radiomorphometric indices in postmenopausal patients with osteoporosis: Case report and literature review

Abstract

Objectives. The aim of this case report is to present a single patient case superimposed on the literature knowledge in regard to mophometric mandibular variations observed on dental panoramic radiography and used to identify patients with low bone mass density (BMD). Case presentation. A 62 years old female patient reported to the Blident Help Dental Clinic, for specific visits and treatments, 3 years apart. Based on the digital panoramic radiography and DXA measurement, an osteoporosis evaluation with radiomorphometric indices was performed. Values for maximum condylar height, maximum coronoid height, projective height of the mandibular ramus, minimum ramus breadth and antegonial angle are higher on both sides. the values decreased for gonial angle, gonial index, mandible cortical width (MCW), superior and inferior mental height and panoramic mandibular indices on both sides. Bigonial distance also dicreased and the mandibular cortical index (MCI) changed from C2 category in 2017 to C3 category in 2020. Discussions. This postmenopausal patient had a decline in MCW values which were lower than 3 mm (threshold to differentiate normal) on panoramic radiographs of women with low BMD. Antegonial Index had a decreased value and could be used as a prediction index for osteoporosis. MCI index changed from C2 to C3 in correlation with the changes of bone mass density in lumbar spine. Conclusions. MCI, MCW, antegonial index and bone density played an important role in determining significance of effects of lower BMD at postmenopausal on the mandibular ramus region.

Keywords

• postmenopause
• radiomorphometric indices
• osteoporosis