The new generation of bone densitometers

Osteoporosis is a consequence of decreased bone mass and an increase in mechanical weakness. Management of osteoporosis can be improved by the assessment of bone mass using absorptiometric techniques such as RA, SXA, DXA, and QCT. Availability and ease of use have made DXA the most widely used technique for measurements of BMD in clinical trials and epidemiologic studies. Quantitative ultrasound has many advantages as a tool for mass screening, including its lack of ionizing radiation, relative portability, and low cost. Recent prospective studies have demonstrated that QUS is similar to DXA/SA in fracture-risk prediction, while quantitative MR and μCT still need further investigation.