Effects of Chemotherapy on Bone Mineral Density in a Post-Mortem Context

Chemotherapy has been shown to have a significant impact on bone mineral density and bone quality in cancer patients. This research aims to study the impact of chemotherapy on bone mineral density and bone quality as seen in the skeletal remains of cancer patients. The Texas State Donated Skeletal Collection was utilized with a total of 20 individuals in the sample size of which 10 were cancer patients and 10 were demographically matched control individuals. The distal left tibia and first lumbar vertebra were scanned using microCT technology and the images were processed to determine bone mineral density, trabecular thickness, and cortical thickness for each element. There is no statistically significant difference between the trabecular and cortical thickness between donor groups. The average bone mineral density is statistically significantly greater for the chemotherapy group than the control group. The difference between donor groups is likely due to outside factors including in-depth medical information and lifestyle that were unable to be accounted for. The post- menopausal impact on the female donors is also another factor that likely has a significant impact that could not fully be accounted for. Further research should take into account and factor in the medical records and lifestyle of individuals with a larger and more comprehensive sample size as well.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Anthropology

Grantor

Texas State University

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Author dc:creator

• Haynes, Sean

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Wescott, Daniel

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Hamilton, Michelle D.
• Bergh, Joel

• chemotherapy
• bone mineral density

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10877/15606

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/15606