[Bone mineral determination using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)]

To quantify the appendicular and axial bone mineral with good accuracy and precision, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), DCS-600 (Aloka) for the radius, mainly composed of cortical bone, and QDR-1000 (Hologic) for the lumbar vertebrae, mainly composed of trabecular bone, was used. Bone loss with aging was earlier in females than that in males, and it was also more prominent in the lumbar vertebrae than that in the radius. Furthermore, the vertebral fracture rate could be evaluated by calculating percentile of an individual bone mineral density to the peak bone mass. Thus, the bone mineral determination using DEXA in both the appendicular and axial bone will provide a useful information in the assessment of bone loss, and the detection of the patients with high risk of fracture in osteoporosis.