X-RAY TECHNIQUES FOR DIAGNOSTICS OF POSTMENOPAUSAL OSTEOPOROSIS

Abstract

This review describes the recent advances in X-ray techniques, in particular dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT), for the imaging of postmenopausal osteoporosis. DXA is non-invasive, low-exposure, low-cost, and high-resolution method, therefore being widely applied for the measurement of bone mineral density. However, scoliosis, fractures, intervertebral disc calcification, and aortic calcification considerably reduce diagnostic accuracy of DXA. Another broadly used X-ray technique is QCT, which permits three-dimensional, separate imaging of cancellous and cortical bones. Alternatively, screening of peripheral osteoporosis can be performed employing quantitative ultrasound (QUS), which does not require exposure to ionizing radiation and expensive equipment but has lower sensitivity and specificity in detecting osteoporosis compared to DXA and QCT. Finally, we focus on radiopharmaceuticals as the promising agents for diagnosis of osteoporosis, despite high cost and low availability of the appropriate equipment limit their implementation.

Keywords

• остеопороз
• минеральная плотность кости
• костная денситометрия
• osteoporosis
• bone mineral density
• bone densitometry