title: Measurement of bone mineral content in vivo using photon absorptiometry.
abstract: Progress in evaluating treatment of systemic bone disease has been hampered in the past by lack of precise in vivo quantitative techniques. Recently a method has been developed for measurement of bone mineral content (BMC), based on bone absorption of low-energy monochromatic radiation. This paper discusses a technique of photon absorptiometry using (125)l as a collimated point source. The technique is simple, with accuracy and precision within 2%.BMC and bone width (W) were measured in the distal radius of 359 normal subjects ranging in age from 5 to 82 years. A "normal" curve of BMC/W with age as the independent variable was then obtained from this population and was constructed for each sex. A positive correlation of BMC/W with height and body weight was found in a group of normal males.A series of patients with osteoporosis or malabsorption, or undergoing hemodialysis or steroid treatment, was then assessed in order to demonstrate changes in BMC/W that may occur secondary to disease or disturbances in calcium metabolism. Many of these patients were found to have a BMC/W below the normal mean value for their age and sex.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001827:Body Height; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003720:Densitometry / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010018:Osteomalacia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D012044:Regression Analysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D002118:Calcium