Value of MDCT data of mandibular condyle cancellous bone to osteoporosis screening

The purpose of this study was application of age- and gender-related differences in mandibular condyle CT values on multidetector-row computed tomography imaging to osteoporosis screening. The mandibular CT images of 327 patients were analyzed retrospectively. The ovoid-shaped region of interest contouring was manually performed on both sides of the mandibular condyle on axial images to determine the mean CT value. The Klemetti index (KI) for each patient was categorized into C1, C2 and C3 based on coronal CT images. The mean CT values of the mandibular condyle were decreased with age in both males and females. The mean CT values of the mandibular condyle also decreased as the KI progressed. Our result suggested that the mean CT values of the mandibular condyle may be a new predictor for screening osteoporosis on multidetector-row computed tomography images.