COPD and osteoporosis: detection and grading of vertebral fractures on lateral chest radiography.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex disease that is highly associated with osteoporosis, which tends to be underdiagnosed and therefore, undertreated. Our purpose was to examine the interobserver variability of the detection and grading of vertebral fractures on routine chest radiographs in patients presenting with severe COPD.

Materials And Methods: Routine lateral chest x-rays from 43 patients (male=25) suffering from severe COPD (Global Initiative on Obstructive Lung Diseases III/IV) were evaluated retrospectively by 2 board certified radiologists and 1 radiology resident for signs of osteoporosis and vertebral fractures by using a validated semiquantitative method according to H.