CHANDIGARH: For the first time in the country, a new machine--High-Resolution peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (HRpQCT)--was installed in PGI’s endocrinology department on Friday.
This diagnostic machine helps in early diagnosis of osteoporosis, steroid induced bone damage, bone disease in diabetes, etc. Its reports are comparable to bone biopsy.
The Rs 5 crore machine will be able to forecast bone health and vulnerability to fractures by capturing more than 1,000 images in two seconds. While the exact price of the test has not been decided yet, sources estimate that it would be around Rs
500. The test report shall be given in around three to four hours.
Prof Jagat Ram, director, PGIMER said, “We have HRpQCT, which is the first in the country to be operational here. As it is non-invasive, giving very less radiation and very quick results comparable to bone biopsy, which is invasive, painful and time consuming, it will open up new avenues not only in patient management but also in clinical and basic research.”
Prof Sanjay Bhadada, head of the department of endocrinology said, “We plan to start a research where we will give some medicines to the patient and follow up after two weeks to see bone density etc. This will be to know if the results are absolutely similar to biopsy. Once we get a positive outcome, we can do away with bone biopsy.”
He added, “Early diagnosis of bone diseases can help prevent future fractures. Furthermore, HR-pQCT can be used to monitor improvement in bone health following initiation of treatment.”
