Secondary osteoporosis in men with prostate cancer treated by androgen deprivation

Osteoporosis is a disease increasingly recognized in men. Vertebral and hip fractures are much more common in men than previously thought. Hypogonadis m is a well-known cause of secondary osteoporosis, but only few studies hav e focused on osteoporosis in men with prostate cancer treated by androgen d eprivation. Greater attention should be paid to osteodensitometry measureme nts in these men, to quantitate the degree of fracture risk not affiliated with bone metastasis. As treatment of the underlying cause is not possible, calcium supplementation, vitamin D, fluoride compounds, calcitonin and esp ecially biphosphonates are useful coprescription treatment options. Biphosp honates inhibit bone resorption by a direct inhibitory action on osteoclast s and have a well known benefit in metastatic bone disease.