[Methodology of bone mass measurement]

Abstract

Over the last several decades, methodologies for the assessment of bone mineral density have considerably progressed and at present bone densitometry has become a prerequisite for diagnosis, monitoring, and epidemiological studies of osteoporosis. However, until recently it was difficult to monitor the response to therapy by bone mineral measurement since the change of bone mineral density by therapy was small compared with measurement errors. On the other hand, bisphosphonate such as risedronate and alendronate have a strong effect on bone mineral density and bone densitometry would be expected to be used more widely in the evaluation of their therapeutic effect. In this paper, bone mass measurement clinically used at present is outlined.