title: Severe osteoporosis: diagnosis of femoral fractures.
abstract: In the diagnosis of femoral fractures, Radiodiagnostic has a role in the different phases of the natural history of these lesions:- in diagnosis and characterization of fractures,- in follow up of the efficacy of therapy, evolution of fractures and any complications,- in studies of risk factors of fractures.Diagnostic imaging employs method of investigation as Conventional Radiology, still crucial in detection, characterization and control of fracture, Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance (MR), essential in doubt of occult fracture and in differential diagnosis between the possible causes of pathologic fracture. Finally, Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA is still the fundamental methodic in diagnosis and assessment of osteoporosis, while QCT, pQCT and HR-CT are experimental techniques used to study in vivo bone microarchitecture and its metabolic and pathological changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caracchini
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavalli