title: DXA scanning in clinical practice.
abstract: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is recognized as the reference method to measure bone mineral density (BMD) with acceptable accuracy errors and good precision and reproducibility. The World Health Organization (WHO) has established DXA as the best densitometric technique for assessing BMD in postmenopausal women and based the definitions of osteopenia and osteoporosis on its results. DXA allows accurate diagnosis of osteoporosis, estimation of fracture risk and monitoring of patients undergoing treatment. However, when DXA studies are performed incorrectly, it can lead to major mistakes in diagnosis and therapy. This article reviews the fundamentals of positioning, scan analysis and interpretation of DXA in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology and Physical Rehabilitation Centre, Military Hospital Mohammed V, Rabat, PO Box: 1018, Morocco. aelmaghraoui@gmail.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Maghraoui
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roux
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment