The role of peripheral quantitative computed tomography at the ultra-distal radius in the assessment and management of osteoporosis

Osteo-densitometry has some well defined roles in the management of osteoporosis. This thesis examined the role of a new technique, peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) at the ultra-distal radius, which quantifies trabecular and cortical bone mineral density (BMD) separately through a volumetric measurement. Comparison was made with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and calcaneal ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and velocity (VOS) in some studies. The precision [expressed as the co-efficient of variation (CV)] of pQCT in young females was 1.24%, 1.33%, 1.58% and 1.88% for total (Qtot), trabecular (Qtrab), subcortical (Qscort) and cortical (Qcort) BMD respectively. The precision was improved to these figures by minimising the difference in voxel numbers between repeat scans, a strategy which was thereafter utilised to aid repositioning in follow-up scans. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)