Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in early life
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Updated: Nov 1, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
A Lapillonne1, P M Braillon, P D Delmas
1Department of Neonatology, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France.
Abstract:
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a safe and quick technique, and requires little cooperation from the patient. DXA has therefore been introduced progressively in paediatrics and neonatology to study bone mineral content and body composition. The limits of DXA are related mainly to accuracy, and it is too early to claim that DXA is a 'gold standard' technique for body composition research. However, DXA appears to be an adequate tool for measuring bone mass and body composition in the clinical setting, and it represents the best technical choice for paediatric use to date.
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