Reproducible methods for the radiological assessment of @entity3604 , defined based on accurate criteria, are needed in everyday practice and in therapeutic trials and epidemiological studies. OBJECTIVES: To describe and to evaluate methods for osteoporotic @entity174 assessment based on standard radiographs or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and to determine the role for each method in clinical practice, therapeutic trials, and epidemiological studies. METHODS: A review written by a rheumatologist based on his clinical experience and on a literature review was submitted to four experts. Studies in English or French published between 1975 and February 2008 were retrieved from Medline using the keywords @entity174 , @entity170 , @entity85 , and @entity174 assessment. RESULTS: One hundred forty-nine articles were selected and read in their full-text version. There was no consensus regarding the @entity3604 . The following methods were evaluated: visual assessment, Genant's semi-quantitative assessment, Jiang's algorithm-based qualitative method, morphometric radiography, and DXA of the spine. In everyday practice, Genant's semi-quantitative assessment on standard radiographs may provide useful information on the severity and prognosis of @entity170 . DXA done for bone mineral density measurement may detect @entity174 in @entity10094 @entity1 . Assessment of standard radiographs remains the reference standard for diagnosing @entity174 in @entity1 with suggestive symptoms (e.g., @entity158 in the thoracic or lumbar spine, height loss, or @entity1513 ). For therapeutic trials and epidemiological studies, Genant's semi-quantitative assessment used by a trained and experienced observer is the preferred method, based on its good reproducibility and ability to differentiate @entity174 from @entity85 . However, thousands of radiographs may be needed, making routine interpretation by an expert impractical. A visual semi-quantitative method may be used to separate normal radiographs from radiographs showing possible or obvious @entity174 , which can then be read by an expert. Alternatively, radiomorphometric indices can be determined on digitized radiographs in combination with a semi-quantitative assessment, with discordant cases being reviewed by an expert. We do not recommend Jiang's method at present, as it is still undergoing validation.

Radiographic methods for evaluating XXXX .

@entity3604 :: ('MESH:D058866', 'Disease') :: ['definition of osteoporotic vertebral fractures', 'osteoporotic vertebral fractures'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity174 :: ('MESH:D050723', 'Disease') :: ['fractures', 'vertebral fractures', 'vertebral fracture'] @entity10094 :: ('MESH:D058070', 'Disease') :: ['asymptomatic'] @entity170 :: ('MESH:D010024', 'Disease') :: ['osteoporosis'] @entity1513 :: ('MESH:D007738', 'Disease') :: ['thoracic kyphosis'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain'] @entity85 :: ('MESH:D009140', 'Disease') :: ['other deformities', 'vertebral deformity']
@entity3604 :: (MESH:D058866,Disease) :: ['osteoporotic vertebral fractures']
