title: Axial QCT: clinical applications and new developments.
abstract: Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) is currently undergoing a renaissance, with an increasing number of studies being published and the definition of both QCT-specific osteoporosis thresholds and treatment criteria. Compared with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, the current standard bone mineral density technique, QCT has a number of pertinent advantages, including volumetric measurements, less susceptibility to degenerative spine changes, and higher sensitivity to changes in bone mass. Disadvantages include the higher radiation doses and less experience with fracture prediction and therapy monitoring. Over the last 10 yr, a number of novel applications have been described allowing assessment of bone mineral density and bone quality in larger patient populations, developments that may substantially improve patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. Electronic address: tmlink@radiology.ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Link
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D015519:Bone Density; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Computed tomography; DXA; multidetector-CT; osteoporosis; quantitative computed tomography (QCT)