Instrumentation and techniques in bone density measurement

Bone disease represents one of the most common diseases in the western world. Often the result is rarefied bone tissue, which leads to a loss in bone strength and is a precursor to clinical osteoporosis. Many different techniques have been used to determine the density of bone tissue at the most important clinical sites in the skeleton for diagnosis of the disease. Measurement of total attenuation or scattering of a radiation beam, attenuation of ultrasonic beams and the activation through neutron irradiation have all been used. This review first considers the skeletal changes that need to be monitored and then considers each technique in turn. When comparing the success of these different approaches accuracy, precision, site of measurement, patient convenience, sensitivity and radiation hazard must all be taken into account.