Work

Opportunistic Diagnosis of Osteoporosis through CT Pulmonary Angiography for Suspected Pulmonary Embolism

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) ordered to confirm or exclude pulmonary embolism (PE) often reveals incidental findings. Its yield in the opportunistic detection of osteoporosis, a prevalent, under-diagnosed condition, is less clear. AIM: Evaluate osteoporosis and fragility fractures in CTPAs. DESIGN: Retrospective review of consecutive CTPAs, compared to the initial imaging report and previous diagnosis. METHODS: CTPAs review by a consultant radiologist and pertinent clinical data from patients' charts. RESULTS: A total of 517 CTPAs (52.6% women, median 70-years-old) were included. PE was identified in 19%. Varied other significant findings were identified, either acute or incidental. Osteoporosis was more than twice as common as PE, found in 211/517 (41%), but it was previously known in 20/211 (4%) and treated in 8 (1.5%). One quarter of the patients with osteoporosis had fragility fractures in the thoracic vertebrae (53/211, 10% of the entire cohort). The primary radiological report named osteoporosis in only 9/211 (1.5%) and fragility fractures in 3/53 (5.5%). CONCLUSION: CTPA can be routinely applied to include evaluation of the vertebral column for osteoporosis, a prevalent and notoriously underdiagnosed and undertreated serious condition of older adults.

Source: QJM

DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcag073

Authors: Ami Schattner, Yair Glick, Valeria Vishnevski, Ina Dubin

Institutions: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Hadassah Medical Center, Laniado Hospital, Ariel University

Language: English

Topic: Bone health and osteoporosis research

Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,382