Relationship between the mandibular cortical index and calcaneal bone mineral density in postmenopausal women

Background and objective: In clinical practice, a comparative analysis of bone mineral density (BMD) is carried out by examining different skeletal bones. This is useful for screening of postmenopausal osteoporosis (OP). The objective of this study was to determine the relation between the mandibular cortical index (MCI) and calcaneal BMD among postmenopausal women.
Materials and methods: The study sample included 129 randomly selected postmenopausal women aged 50–77 years. The participants were examined using panoramic radiography for the analysis of the cortical layer in the mandibular base for MCI determination and using DXL for the examination of calcaneal BMD. According to T scores, the subjects were divided into three groups (Groups 1, 2, and 3). The panoramic radiographic examination of the mandible was performed; the MCI was determined and distributed into groups (C1; C2; C3). The MCI validity in determining the calcaneus BMD status was analyzed.
Results: The differences in BMD were statistically significant between Groups C1 and C3 (P < 0.01), Groups C2 and C3 (P = 0.01), and between the calcaneal BMD groups (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between the MCI and calcaneal BMD (r = −0.3; P < 0.001). The changes characteristic of Group C2 were documented more frequently than those of other morphological groups. The analysis of the MCI validity in BMD status showed low sensitivity (69.4%) and specificity (53.9%).
Conclusions: The relation between MCI and calcaneal BMD was determined. The diagnostic discrimination of the MCI was found to be not sufficient in screening the women with postmenopausal osteoporosis and its application in clinical practice might be limited.