Bachrach Laura K
Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305, USA.
Horm Res. 2006;65 Suppl 2:11-6. doi: 10.1159/000091749.
Bone densitometry is used to assess skeletal health in clinical and research settings, with the goal of achieving reproducible measurements of bone mass that help to identify individuals predisposed to fracture. The search is now on for better methods of capturing additional factors that contribute to bone strength, including bone size, geometry, microarchitecture, and turnover rates. This has proved particularly challenging in growing children, whose bones continually change in size, shape, and mass. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry is the preferred method for measuring bone mass in children, but the technique has several limitations, and interpreting the findings can be problematic. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography is a promising method for assessing bone mass and other indices correlating with bone strength, but a lack of precision and paediatric norms currently restricts its clinical utility. Although bone mineral density is predictive of future fracture risk in adults, the evidence in children is less conclusive, and a diagnosis of osteoporosis in a child should not be made on densitometric findings alone. Developing a clearer understanding of how measures of bone mass and strength correlate with bone fracture in children will help target preventive strategies for those in greatest need.
骨密度测定用于临床和研究环境中评估骨骼健康，目的是实现对骨量的可重复测量，以帮助识别易发生骨折的个体。目前正在寻找更好的方法来捕捉影响骨强度的其他因素，包括骨大小、几何形状、微结构和转换率。这在成长中的儿童中已证明特别具有挑战性，因为他们的骨骼在大小、形状和质量方面不断变化。双能X线吸收法是测量儿童骨量的首选方法，但该技术有几个局限性，且对结果的解释可能存在问题。外周定量计算机断层扫描是评估骨量和其他与骨强度相关指标的一种有前景的方法，但目前缺乏精度和儿科标准限制了其临床应用。虽然骨矿物质密度可预测成人未来的骨折风险，但在儿童中的证据尚不确凿，儿童骨质疏松症的诊断不应仅基于骨密度测定结果。更清楚地了解儿童骨量和强度测量与骨折之间的关系，将有助于针对最需要的人群制定预防策略。
