Abstract
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the most widely used method of measuring areal bone mineral density (BMDa) in adults and children and provides precise results with very low doses of ionizing radiation. The basic rationale for DXA examinations is their ability to identify patients at increased risk of fracture, and the new World Health Organization (WHO) fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) effectively exploits this ability and sets the clinical application of bone densitometry on a sound scientific basis. One merit of the FRAX scheme is that it treats BMDa measurements as just another type of clinical risk factor rather than a uniquely special indicator of skeletal status. There are particular issues with interpreting DXA results in children in whom the dependency on bone size is a limitation, and to date there is no consensus on whether size correction should be applied and which method is optimum.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Primer on the Metabolic Bone Diseases and Disorders of Mineral Metabolism |
| Subtitle of host publication | Eighth Edition |
| Publisher | WILEY-BLACKWELL |
| Pages | 249-263 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781118453926 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781118453889 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 19 Jul 2013 |
Keywords
- Areal bone mineral density (BMDa)
- Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
- Fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX)