Abstract

Bone mineral density in animals can be estimated through some imaging techniques, with double emission X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) being the two most commonly used methods that allow the diagnosis of demineralization in its early stages. Studies were carried out on green iguanas (Iguna iguana) in an attempt to establish reference values in free-ranging animals, aiming to enable the diagnosis of possible early changes in bone mineral metabolism. This study presents data obtained from computed tomography scans performed on ten clinically healthy green iguanas for osteodensitometric evaluation. Tomographic examinations were performed without chemical restraint. After acquiring and digitizing the images, the spine was analyzed using primary images and multiplanar reconstruction. The average bone mineral density of the trabecular bone in free-ranging healthy iguanas was 624,12 ± 109,73 mg/cm³. This work provides a baseline for future studies on pathological changes in bone density in this species.