Technical White Paper: Bone Densitometry

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2007.01.021 Byline: June Hawkinson (a), Julie Timins (b), Dennis Angelo (c), Margaret Shaw (d), Russell Takata (e), Frances Harshaw (f) Keywords: Bone densitometry; osteoporosis; bone mineral density; single-energy x-ray absorptiometry; dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; quantitative computed tomography; quantitative ultrasound; ionizing radiation; radiation dose; radiation exposure; precision testing Abstract: The Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) Task Force on Bone Densitometry (H-30) was assigned by the Healing Arts Council on Emerging Issues to address issues of bone densitometry. Issues for clarification included the practice of precision testing, in which multiple bone density determinations are performed on one patient; the use of quantitative computed tomographic (CT) densitometry; and radiation dose to patients and operators. This paper is a condensation of the white paper produced by the task force, which addresses the various methods of measuring bone density, the qualifications and responsibilities of personnel, the rationale for precision testing, and the doses patients and operators may receive. The white paper is available in its entirety on the CRCPD's Web site (http://crcpd.org). Author Affiliation: (a) Retired from Minnesota Department of Health, Minn. (b) Department of Radiology, Christ Hospital, Jersey City, NJ. (c) Department of Radiation Protection (Southwest Regional Office), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pa. (d) Minnesota Department of Health, Environmental Health and Radiation Control, St. Paul, Minn. (e) Department of Health; Noise, Radiation, and Indoor Air Quality Branch, Honolulu, Hawaii. (f) Harshaw Medical Physics Consultants, Austin, Tex.