Guangnan Li1, Haoliang Qian1, Songsong Guo1, Dongmiao Wang1, Chao Sun2, Yifei Du1, Jie Cheng1, Hongbing Jiang3. 1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, 136 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China. 2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, 136 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China. 3. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, 136 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China. jhb@njmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to analyze the aging-related changes of the female condylar bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular structure by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and determine whether the condylar structure shows obvious changes after menopause. METHODS: The CBCT images of 160 female patients who met the inclusion criteria for the study were collected and divided into four groups by age (20-29 years, 30-39 years, premenopausal, and postmenopausal groups). Computer processing software CT-Analyser (Version 1.15.2.2+; SkyScan, Antwerp, Belgium) was used to measure the condylar BMD and related indexes, namely the bone volume/tissue volume ratio (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), trabecular structure model index (SMI), and bone surface area/volume ratio (BS/BV). SPSS 12.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used to analyze the radiographic findings and statistical differences. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the bilateral condyles in each group (P > 0.05). BV/TV, Tb.N, and Tb.Th of the condyle decreased with age, and the postmenopausal group showed significantly different values for each index compared with the other groups (P < 0.01). Tb.Sp, SMI, and BS/BV of the condyle increased with age, and the postmenopausal group showed significantly different values for each index compared with the other groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: With increasing age, the female condylar bone volume decreases, the Tb.N and Tb.Th decrease, the gap between the trabecular bone increases, and plate-like trabecular bone gradually transforms into a rod-like form. These changes are much more obvious in postmenopausal women.
<span class="abstract_title">OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to analyze the aging-related changes of the female condylar bone mineral density (<span class="Disease">BMD) and trabecular structure by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and determine whether the condylar structure shows obvious changes after menopause. METHODS: The CBCT images of 160 female patients who met the inclusion criteria for the study were collected and divided into four groups by age (20-29 years, 30-39 years, premenopausal, and postmenopausal groups). Computer processing software CT-Analyser (Version 1.15.2.2+; SkyScan, Antwerp, Belgium) was used to measure the condylar BMD and related indexes, namely the bone volume/tissue volume ratio (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), trabecular structure model index (SMI), and bone surface area/volume ratio (BS/BV). SPSS 12.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used to analyze the radiographic findings and statistical differences. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the bilateral condyles in each group (P > 0.05). BV/TV, Tb.N, and Tb.Th of the condyle decreased with age, and the postmenopausal group showed significantly different values for each index compared with the other groups (P < 0.01). Tb.Sp, SMI, and BS/BV of the condyle increased with age, and the postmenopausal group showed significantly different values for each index compared with the other groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: With increasing age, the female condylar bone volume decreases, the Tb.N and Tb.Th decrease, the gap between the trabecular bone increases, and plate-like trabecular bone gradually transforms into a rod-like form. These changes are much more obvious in postmenopausal women.