Peripheral or axial bone density measurements to identify osteoporosis in prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy?

OBJECTIVES: To compare aDEXA and pDEXA in patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa) undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). A significant proportion of patients presenting with advanced PCa are osteoporotic, and many will become so because of ADT. Guidelines have recommended bone densitometry assessment before beginning ADT, with subsequent monitoring. However, axial dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (aDEXA) scanners, being large, expensive, and hospital-based, are not always widely available. Peripheral DEXA (pDEXA), with portable, office-based machines can be used, but the results have mostly been compared with aDEXA in women without cancer. METHODS: A total of 73 men (mean age 76 years) with advanced PCa, who were receiving ADT and found to be osteoporotic (T score