[Gamma-ray bone densitometry and evaluation of the patient at risk for osteoporosis]

After having briefly illustrated the main theories of photonic ray bone densitometry, the authors describe the various techniques used to evaluate bone mass and bone mineral density as accurately and precisely as possible both at an appendicular level and at lumbar and femoral sites. Since these data only provide a static measurement and are unable to provide information regarding bone mass evolution in time, a method is illustrated which is theoretically capable of identifying high risk subjects, namely those who, on the basis of simple blood and urine tests for some biochemical parameters, are likely to undergo a significant reduction in bone mass in the future. Lastly, the paper reports the preliminary results of a study carried out in immediately post-menopausal women in whom rapid loss of bone mass was followed by a greater reduction in bone mineral density measured at an appendicular level.