Osteoporosis and amenorrhea in young women.

Bone density of the radius was measured using both standard photon absorptiometry and X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning, and of the femur using CT, in 21 young women with amenorrhea and estrogen deficiency due to hyperprolactinemia, 8 due to ovarian failure or weight loss, 17 postmenopausal women with bone fractures presumed to be due to osteoporosis, and 36 young normal controls. Bone density in the postmenopausal women was reduced by 18-20% in the radius and 11% in the femur (p less than 0.001). In the hyperprolactinemic group bone density was significantly reduced only in the femur (by 4%, p less than 0.01). Bone density appeared to be reduced in the other young amenorrheic women both in the radius (by 2-5%) and the femur (3%) but the difference was not significant, although the group was small. This and other studies of bone density suggest the need for prophylactic treatment to prevent osteoporosis in young women with amenorrhea and estrogen deficiency, whatever the cause.

An evaluation of the Meditech M250 and a comparison with other CT scanners.

The Meditech M250 computerised tomography (CT) machine was evaluated during the first half of 1984. Measurements were made of noise, modulation transfer function, slice width, radiation dose profile, uniformity and linearity of CT number, effective photon energy and parameters relating to machine specification, such as pixel size and scan time. All breakdowns were logged to indicate machine reliability. A comparison with the established EMI CT1010 and CT5005 was made for noise, resolution and multislice radiation dose, as well as the dose efficiency or quality (Q) factor for both head and body modes of operation. The M250 was found to perform to its intended specification with an acceptable level of reliability.