Background/Aims: Abnormalities of bone metabolism occur to gastrectomised patients in the form of a late complication. Nowadays, many biochemical and radiologic measurements are applied to detect these abnormalities. The aim of this study was to determine the parameter for an appropriate screening test during the long-term follow-up period and define the usefulness of new biochemical markers for bone metabo]ism by comparing them with traditional markers. Methods: Among the patients gastrectomised(Billroth II) in the surgica] department of Hanyang University Hospital since 1982, 10 patients were randomly selected with exclusion criteria by measuring several biochemical and radiologic tests. Ten age-matched volunteers who led a healthy normal life were selected with the consent of subjects. Results: Comparing the data with those of a corresponding control group, the ]umbar bone density tneasured by quantitative cornputed tornography(QCT) was statistically significantly lower in the patient group(p0.01). In addition, urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD), a biochemical marker for bone resorption, was statistica]ly higher in the patient group(p -0.025). Osteocalcin, P1CP, and 1CTP were slightly but not significant]y bigher in the patient group. The serum PTH and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were sitnilar in both groups. Conclusiions: Although the nurnber of cases was smal] for data evaluation, we suggest that urinary deoxypyridinoline and QCT were appropriate parameters for tbe screening test for the detection of bone metabolism abnormalities in gastrectomised patients during the long-term follow-up. Furthermore, urinary deoxypyridinoline is a simple and rapid test which can replace cumbersome 24-hour urinary hydroxypro]ine. (Korean J Gastroenterol 1996; 28:172 178)