New techniques for the diagnosis of osteoporosis

In this review article current developments and applications in quantitative osteoporosis imaging are presented. Developments in the field of DXA include geometrical parameters of the proximal femur such as the ''hip axis length'' and new ROIs to determine BMD. Advances in QCT are new volumetric techniques to quantify BMD at the lumbar spine and the proximal femur. In addition techniques to determine BMD in standard contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography studies are described. Currently with the new bone quality concept in full bloom techniques to quantify trabecular bone architecture as new surrogates of bone strength are of increasing significance. Spatial high-resolution techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and new computed tomography techniques have shown their potential in assessing trabecular bone structure. In addition ultrasound is considered a low-cost technique to explore bone quality. (orig.)