Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry of the calcaneus: comparison with other techniques to assess bone density and value in predicting risk of spine fracture.

Abstract
The calcaneus has been proposed as an alternative site for assessment of bone mineral density (BMD) in women with osteoporosis. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the clinical usefulness of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the calcaneus for predicting spinal fracture and to compare the predictive value of assessment of BMD by DXA of the calcaneus, quantitative CT or DXA of the lumbar spine, and DXA of the most distal part of the radius.The study group consisted of 399 healthy volunteer women (aged 19-81 years) and 27 women (aged 44-85 years) who had osteoporosis. They had DXA of the calcaneus, quantitative CT and DXA of the lumbar spine, and DXA of the most distal part of the radius. T-score analyses were used to compare decreases in BMD in postmenopausal women with decreases in premenopausal women, and to compare decreases in women with and without osteoporosis.T-score analysis of age-related changes in BMD in the control subjects showed that densities in the calcaneus, the lumbar spi...

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