July - September 2014, Volume 10, Issue 3

Barbu CG

Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry Applications Beyond Bone Densitometry - Something old, Something New, Something Borrowed

Acta Endo (Buc) 2014, 10 (3): 435-442
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2014.435

Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is well known as the “gold standard” technique for the diagnosis of osteoporosis; therefore its “brightness” puts into shadow other valuable applications both in research and clinical practice. Whole body scan offers the opportunity to analyze the body composition, the oldest non bone densitometric application with valuable research data relevant for sarcopenia diagnosis, obesity and lipodystrophy diagnosis. Hip geometry analysis is also an older feature of DXA femur scan remained in the research area. The trabecular bone score (TBS) is the newest and most astonishing application using DXA scans: it brings bone quality data based on the image texture analysis of the spine DXA images with relevant impact on the fracture risk assessment independent of the bone density. Vertebral fracture assessment could be done in the same visit with bone densitometry using DXA rapid lateral spine scan: it is a borrowed application from plain radiology, as atypical femoral fracture (AFF) diagnosis and relies on the increased image quality of the DXA scans on recent equipments. At the same time, incidental findings on these images offer the opportunity to evaluate aortic calcifications useful for cardiovascular risk evaluation.

Keywords: DXA body composition, DXA VFA, TBS, atypical subtrohanterian fracture, aortic calcifications

Correspondence: Carmen Gabriela Barbu MD, “Carol Davila” University, Elias Hospital Discipline, 17 Marasti bvd, Bucharest, 7900, Romania, E-mail: carmen_gabriela_barbu@yahoo.co.uk