Special report on the official positions of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry.

The International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) periodically holds Position Development Conferences (PDCs) for the purpose of establishing standards and guidelines for indications, acquisition, and interpretation of bone density tests. Topics are selected for consideration by the ISCD Scientific Advisory Committee, reviewed by scientific working groups, and presented to an international panel of experts. Topic categories addressed to date include indications for bone density testing, selection of reference databases for T-scores and Z-scores, clinical applications for central and peripheral bone densitometry, serial bone density testing, instrument precision assessment, phantom scanning and calibration testing, requirements for a bone density report, nomenclature, and diagnosis of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, premenopausal women, men, and children. Following an open session for public comment and discussion, the panel convenes for consideration of each topic and makes recommendations for positions to the ISCD Board of Directors. Recommendations that are accepted become the Official Positions of the ISCD. This Special Report summarizes the methodology of the ISCD PDCs and presents selected Official Positions of general interest.