Ward's triangle bone mineral density determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry is a sensitive indicator of osteoporosis.

Objective: To assess the clinical utility of bone mineral density (BMD) of Ward's triangle by dual-energy absorptiometry (DEXA) as an indicator of osteoporosis in comparison with quantitative computed tomography (QCT) of the lumbar spine and DEXA of the lumbar spine and hip sites (trochanter and femoral neck).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all patients (28 men and 17 women) with decreased BMD by QCT (T-score less than -1.0) who had DEXA BMD performed at the lumbar spine and hip between October 1993 and January 1995 in our Endocrine Clinic.

Results: Osteoporosis based on the World Health Organization criteria (T-score less than -2.5) was defined by QCT lumbar spine BMD in 78% of the study subjects and by DEXA of Ward's triangle in 53%, of the femoral neck in 22%, of the trochanter in 7%, and of the lumbar spine in 2%. In the men, the only DEXA BMD measurement that was sensitive for detecting osteoporosis was Ward's triangle. Of the 24 men with osteoporosis by QCT BMD, 14 were defined as having osteoporosis by DEXA exclusively at Ward's triangle. The DEXA lumbar spine BMD measurement was actually above the mean for young normal control subjects in 8 of the 24 men with osteoporosis by QCT BMD. In the 11 women with osteoporosis by QCT BMD, the DEXA BMD at Ward's triangle and the femoral neck were equally sensitive in detecting osteoporosis, whereas the DEXA lumbar spine and trochanter BMD measurements were insensitive.

Conclusion: DEXA BMD of Ward's triangle is a sensitive indicator of osteoporosis, particularly in men, and should be used to identify patients at increased risk for osteoporosis-related fractures.