Quantitative computed tomography in assessment of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common disorder with considerable health risk and medical care cost. Recent advances in technology have provided new opportunities for evaluating bone mass noninvasively that may impact substantially on the detection and course of osteoporotic conditions. The laboratory and clinical results presented herein indicate that quantitative computed tomography provides a reliable means to evaluate and monitor the many forms of osteoporosis and the various interventions aimed at ameliorating this condition. The greatest advantages of spinal QCT for noninvasive bone mineral measurement lie in the high precision of the technique, the high sensitivity of the vertebral spongiosa measurement site, and the potential for widespread application