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Computed tomography density changes of bone metastases after concomitant denosumab

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 Abstract

Objective

To evaluate bone density changes at the level of normal trabecular bone and bone metastases (BMs) after denosumab (DM) treatment in oncologic patients.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively evaluated 31 consecutive adult patients with histologically confirmed solid tumors with at least one newly diagnosed bone metastatic lesion detected at CT. Patients received treatment with DM, 120 mg subcutaneous every 28 days for at least 6 months. Bone density was determined at the level of BMs and at the level of normal trabecular bone of lumbar vertebrae using a region of interest (ROI)–based approach.

Results

A progressive increase in CT bone density was demonstrated at the level of normal trabecular bone at 6 months (18% ± 5%) and 12 months (23% ± 7%) after the treatment begins. BMs showed a significant increase in CT bone density (p < 0.05) as compared to baseline after 6 months (57% ± 15%) and 12 months (1.06 ± 0.25 times higher) after treatment.

Conclusion

We have found that long-term treatment with DM increases bone density progressively in oncologic patients. This effect can be observed not only at the level of secondary lesions but also at the level of apparently normal trabecular bone and is more pronounced for osteolytic metastases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128, Rome, Italy

    Carlo A. Mallio & Bruno Beomonte Zobel

  2. Research Unit of Radiology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy

    Carlo A. Mallio & Bruno Beomonte Zobel

  3. U.O.C. Diagnostica per Immagini Territoriale Aziendale, Cittadella della Salute Azienda Sanitaria Locale di Lecce, Lecce, Italy

    Federico Greco

  4. U.O.S.D Diagnostica per Immagini Emergenza Urgenza, Azienda Ospedaliera San Camillo Forlanini, Roma, Italy

    Francesco Gaudino

  5. Centre for Medical Sciences - CISMed, University of Trento, Trento, Italy

    Carlo C. Quattrocchi

Authors
  1. Carlo A. Mallio
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  2. Federico Greco
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  4. Bruno Beomonte Zobel
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  5. Carlo C. Quattrocchi
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Correspondence to Carlo A. Mallio.

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Mallio, C.A., Greco, F., Gaudino, F. et al. Computed tomography density changes of bone metastases after concomitant denosumab. Skeletal Radiol 52, 1567–1575 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-023-04326-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-023-04326-3

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