A Newly Developed Instrument of Dual Photon Absorptiometry for Bone Mineral Analysis of the Lumbar Vertebra: Study in Control and Aged Females

In order to determine the quantitatively bone mass, dual photon absorptiometry instrument using a scintillation camera was newly developed, and its basic performance was described. Furthermore, with this instrument, bone mineral at 3rd lumbar vertebra was measured in 57 women (31 controls: age 29.9±6.4 yrs., and 16 seniles: age 67.7±6.6 yrs.). The aged females, compared with the young control females, showed significantly low the all parameters of bone mineral such as bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density and total BMC at 3rd lumbar vertebra. Thus, it was shown that assessment of bone mineral with this instrument provided a useful information in the diagnosis of osteoporosis