title: Adult Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry in Clinical Practice: How I Report it.
abstract: Several imaging methods for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis exist. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the most widely available and commonly used for measuring bone mineral density (BMD). Central DXA has several advantages: It has very good reproducibility, administers a negligible radiation dose to the patient, and BMD values obtained by DXA relate to fracture risk. Nevertheless, DXA has some technical limitations that should be recognized by those physicians who interpret and report this examination. We provide recommendations for optimal DXA scan reporting in adults, including indications, skeletal sites to be measured, serial BMD measurements, and fracture risk assessment. In conclusion, DXA is the standard of reference in evaluating BMD and is effective in following up patients over time. Adequate reporting and analysis of previous DXA examinations is crucial to manage patients correctly.
authors.affiliation: Scuola di Specializzazione in Radiodiagnostica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.affiliation: Radiologia/Diagnostica per Immagini con Servizio di Radiologia Interventistica, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sconfienza
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Radiologia, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bandirali
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guglielmi
authors.affiliation: Mineralometria Ossea Computerizzata e Ambulatorio Malattie Metabolismo Minerale e Osseo, Servizio di Medicina Nucleare, IRCCS Fondazione Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio Massimo
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ulivieri
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015510:Clinical Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment