[Can bone quality be assessed non-invasively?--Imaging--]

Properties of "bone quality" contain "structural property" and "material property" . Most components of "material properties" cannot be visualized by current technology. Mineralization, one of material properties, can be evaluated using synchrotron radiation CT or contact microradiography with high spatial and density resolution, but they are invasive examinations. On the other hand, "structural property" can be radiographically delineated, even though only a few methods are available non-invasively. Assessments of macrostructure of bone by radiograms or CT, and trabecular microstructure by high resolution CT or MR can be done non-invasively, and provide valuable results in clinical studies. Bone scintigram provides limited but useful information of bone turnover.