An AI model that detects low bone mineral density (BMD) on ankle and foot x-rays could be useful for screening for osteoporosis, according to radiologists at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Given that gold standard dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans are underused in screening, the tool could be used opportunistically, the researchers noted.
“There are no costs related to opportunistic screening, because patients received these radiographs of the foot and ankle for some other purpose,” wrote co-authors Farid Gharehmohammadi, MD, and Ronnie Sebro, MD. The study was published February 4 in the European Journal of Radiology.
While BMD testing is recommended for females 65 years and older, for males over the age of 70, and for younger individuals 50 years and older based on risk factors, only 20…