<p> This thesis focuses on an examination of cortical and trabecular bone density and geometry at the radius and tibia in postmenopausal women, primarily women with history of breast carcinoma, while also assessing musculoskeletal changes in postmenopausal breast cancer patients after treatment with the Aromatase Inhibitor, Anastrozole. The first sub-study is an investigation of the reproducibility of the pQCT measurement parameters at the radius and tibia in healthy pre-and postmenopausal women. Results indicated that the reproducibility was good at the radius and even better at the tibia for all parameters measured. The second study is an appraisal of the level of osteoporosis knowledge in a cohort of postmenopausal women. The participants were assessed via the Facts on Osteoporosis Quiz, a well validated questionnaire, and the data revealed significantly lower test scores among the breast cancer subjects in comparison with healthy postmenopausal women. In the remaining group of studies, pQCT technology was utilized to describe trabecular and cortical bone at the radius and tibia in postmenopausal women and women with a history of breast carcinoma whom had been prescribed Anastrozole. The following measurement sites were significantly lower in the breast cancer subjects: TOT_DEN and TOT_CNT at the 4% radius; CRT_DEN, TOT_CNT, and CRT_CNT at the 20% radius; TOT_DEN at the 4% tibia; and CRT_DEN at the 38% tibia. With respect to time on Anastrozole, TOT_CNT at the 4% radius (r=-0.36); TOT_CNT (r=-0.33), CRT_CNT (r=-0.34) and CRT_DEN (r=-0.44) at the 20% radius; and CRT_DEN (r=-0.39) and CRT_CNT (r=-0.27) at the 38% tibia were significantly negatively correlated with days on Anastrozole. Furthermore, after two years of Anastrozole treatment in a small cohort of breast cancer subjects, there was a significant decrease in CRT_DEN (p=0.025) at the 20% diaphyseal radius and also at the 38% diaphyseal tibia (p=0.051). Together, the sub-studies that comprise this thesis demonstrate that there are noteworthy deficiencies in osteoporosis knowledge among postmenopausal women, particularly those with a history of breast carcinoma, and yet, these are the same women that have an increased need to understand the preventative and treatment options regarding this disease as they demonstrate reduced bone density at all measurement sites. It also appears that time on Anastrozole primarily affects cortical bone density in these women. In summary, this thesis provides novel details regarding cortical bone in breast cancer subjects and emphasizes the need for a normative database of bone quality parameters at different skeletal sites in order to gain a better understanding of the utility of each skeletal site with regard to fracture risk prediction. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/17429 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Szabo, Kristina |
| Contributors | Webber, C., Medical Sciences |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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