Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
2016 , Vol 62 , Num 3
The role of quantitative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis and follow-up of osteoporosis: A review
Derya Demirbağ Kabayel 1
1 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey
DOI :
10.5606/tftrd.2016.33407
Use of quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in bone mineral density (BMD) measurement dates earlier than dual-energy X-ray
absorptiometry (DXA). However, when World Health Organization defined osteoporosis based on T score values, all BMD measurement
methods except DXA lost popularity. Fear of radiation is another factor that reduced the popularity of QCT. Quantitative computed
tomography evaluates trabecular, and cortical bone separately. Bone mineral density is measured volumetrically and bone is analyzed in
three dimensions. Quantitative computed tomography’s not being affected by arthrosic changes and vascular calcifications is a considerable
advantage. It can be used in vertebra, femur, and peripheral skeleton. Radiation dose in peripheral application is negligible. Magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI), even though not used in diagnosis of osteoporosis routinely, is a valuable tool in differential diagnosis as well as
in research investigating the microstructure of the bone. Recently, bone strength can also be evaluated with QCT and MRI. In this review,
we emphasize the role of QCT and MRI in diagnosis and follow-up of osteoporosis.
Keywords :
Magnetic resonance imaging; osteoporosis; quantitative computed tomography
