Summary
Radial diaphyseal bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the standard one-third site by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and by125I single photon absorptiometry (SPA) in 70 consecutive subjects, aged 12–86 years, with metabolic disorders of the skeleton. Each patient was measured once by the DEXA (Hologic QDR-1000) instrument and four times by the SPA (Norland 2780) instrument on the same day by one or the other of 2 technicians. The DEXA and SPA measurements were linearly related and highly correlated (r=0.975,P<0.0001) over a range from severe osteopenia to high normal BMD. Ninety-five percent of the variation in the BMD determined by SPA was accounted for by DEXA, so that the BMDSPA=1.035±0.027 (SEM)×BMDDEXA−0.007±0.019 (SEM). This permits continued use of previously accumulated SPA databases. The coefficient of variation for repeat measurements by DEXA was 1.2% and by SPA 1.6%. Examination time by DEXA was 6–7 minutes, about 45% shorter than the corresponding SPA determinations. DEXA is the superior method for evaluation of the radius, as it provides faster and more precise measurements in clinical practice.
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Weinstein, R.S., New, K.D. & Sappington, L.J. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry versus single photon absorptiometry of the radius. Calcif Tissue Int 49, 313–316 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02556252
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02556252