Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry

Bone mineral density (BMD) measurement by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the most commonly used method to assess fracture risk. DXA utilizes two different energy X-rays to calculate BMD and, by comparison to a young normative database, the T-score. In 1994, the World Health Organization defined osteoporosis based on T-score, changing the paradigm of the field and forever placing DXA measurements in the center of osteoporosis diagnosis. Since then, many large studies have demonstrated the predictive value of BMD by DXA —for every standard deviation decline in BMD, there is a relative risk of 1.5–2.5 for fracture.
Source: Journal of Clinical Densitometry - Category: Radiology Authors: Source Type: research