3-D Images Provide New Approach to Monitoring Bone Changes

June 28, 2010 – A new 3-D imaging technique promises to give physicians a clearer picture of bone changes during osteoporosis treatment. Using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT), researchers were able to look inside the bone at the specific bone structure and quality.

Interim data from a prospective Investigator Initiated Trial (IIT) presented this week at the 37th European Symposium on Calcified Tissues, in Glasgow, demonstrates that Evista improves bone quality as measured by HRpQCT. Dr. Helmut Radspieler, Investigator of the IIT at the Osteoporosis Diagnostic- und Therapy centre Munich, evaluated prospectively micro-architectural changes of the bone of patients being treated with Evista for 15.1 months. The trial showed that all parameters analyzed improved over the treatment period.

“With the help of 3-D images, we can now actually see into the micro-structure of bones. This makes it possible to determine the efficacy of different treatments, as shown here with raloxifene,” Radspieler said. “We now understand better and are also able to visualize that bone structure and not bone density alone is crucial to retain bone quality.”