Importance of measurement of bone density in the management of osteoporosis.

Bone mass is the primary, although not the only, determinant of fracture. Over the past few years a number of noninvasive techniques have been developed to more sensitively quantitate bone mass. These include radiogrammetry (RG) and radiographic photodensitometry (RD), single and dual photon absorptiometry (SPA and DPA), quantitative computed tomography (QCT), and single and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (SEXA and DEXA). These techniques provide bone mass quantitation at the spine, wrist, hip and total body skeletal sites that are the principal areas usually involved in osteoporosis. The evaluation of the aetiology, progression, and treatment of osteoporosis has been clearly improved with the use of these methods. It is the intent of this review to discuss the pros and cons of these techniques, in particular their applications to the detection and management of osteoporosis.