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Richard B. Mazess, PhD
University of Wisconsin Madison

JAMA. 1981;246(20):2322.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

Cann et al (1980; 244:2056) reported that the mineral concentration in computed tomographic (CT) scans of lumbar vertebrae declined by 6% to 10% per year in women (half of whom were estrogen treated) after oophorectomy. Even higher losses (20% per year) were seen in some subjects. The average rate was many times higher than the usual postmenopausal rate (1% per year) of bone loss in iliac crest biopsy or than the comparable aging decrease (1% per year) that might be inferred from the bone density changes of the spinal centrum between ages 40 and 60 years.^1,2 The high loss observed with CT could reflect a technical error. Cann et al gave the incorrect impression that they used dual-energy CT (which is not sensitive to variable fat content of marrow) but actually used single-energy scans, which are subject to large fat-induced inaccuracies.³ A 10% increase of . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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