As reported in DOTmed News, it looks like GE's advanced iDXA scanner can help diagnose vertebral deformities on a par with conventional radiographs. The iDXA uses a specialized vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) that spotlights the problem.

Practitioners already know how indispensable DXA scanning is to diagnosing osteoporosis, a silent and dangerous condition of bone mineral density loss. But another important diagnostic question has been pondered for some time: Can BMD DXA machines also diagnose vertebral deformities of the thoracic and lumbar spine? Those painful, debilitating conditions are caused by trauma, degeneration, or osteoporosis itself.

A recent study--and yes, it was GE funded--finds that experienced readers can correctly identify and classify vertebral deformities comparably using iDXA and radiographs. In fact, for vertebral fractures, a 100% agreement was found by researchers at the Centre for Muscle and Bone Research, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charite-University Medicine, Berlin.

Will we ever realize the urgency of BMD testing and make sure patients get the scans they need? That hasn't happened satisfactorily yet. Now, with the new spine findings, we have yet another reason to refer patients for this simple and informative test.

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