SPINAL BONE-MINERAL DENSITY BY QUANTITATIVE CT IN A NORMAL ITALIAN POPULATION

The purpose of this study was to describe the normal cross-sectional p attern of spinal bone loss associated with aging in an Italian populat ion and to compare these values to the American normative database. A group of 472 healthy subjects (382 females and 90 males) were recruite d for bone mineral density (BMD) assessment by quantitative computed t omography (QCT). To eliminate technique-related differences in a compa rison of Italian and American normal values obtained with two differen t scanners we performed a cross-calibration analysis scanning the same computerized imaging reference system (CIRS) phantom at both centers. The results of the cross-calibration study using the CIRS phantom wer e used to compare regression slopes of BMD with age and age-adjusted m ean BMD of American men and women vs cross-calibrated Italian men and women. American men and women decrease more rapidly vs Italian men and women, and Italian men have significantly lower age-adjusted mean BMD than American men. For these reasons we recommend normal values to be locally obtained for an Italian population.