Bone densitometry: Current assessment

Conclusions Noninvasive measurements of bone mineral density allow the assessment of skeletal integrity, both centrally and peripherally, with high precision and accuracy and with relatively low radiation dose. When estimating skeletal status, it may be important to measure bone mineral density at more than one site to assess differential skeletal responses related to disease or therapy and to assess differential fracture risk. Due to technical differences between the various methods of bone mineral measurement, the quantitative results are typically expressed with differing calibration standards, such that direct comparisons must be carefully made.