A comparison of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry of the hip and accuDEXA of the finger for the diagnosis of osteoporosis in men on androgen deprivation therapy for advanced prostate cancer

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry ( DEXA) of the hip or spine has been shown to be an effective screening tool for osteoporosis in men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for advanced carcinoma of the prostate. A less expensive alternative to DEXA is the use of peripheral scanners, such as accuDEXA, which measures bone mineral density (BMD) the finger. In this paper, we reviewed 59 patients on ADT who underwent both accuDEXA scan of the non-dominant hand and DEXA scan of the hip. The mean T-scores calculated by the two techniques were similar; however, the individual T-scores correlated poorly with each other. We conclude that men who require ADT for prostate cancer should undergo standard DEXA of the hip for osteoporosis screening.