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Quantitative Computed Tomography at the Axial Skeleton

  • Chapter
Bone Densitometry and Osteoporosis

Abstract

Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) is an established technique for measuring bone mineral density (BMD) in the axial spine and appendicular skeleton [1–3]. Because it provides cross-sectional images, QCT is uniquely able to provide separate measurements of trabecular and cortical bone BMD as well as a true volumetric mineral density in grams per cubic centimeter. In this application QCT has been used for assessment of vertebral fracture risk [4, 5], measurement of age-related bone loss [6–8], and follow-up of osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases [9]. This chapter assesses the current capabilities of QCT at different skeletal sites, and reviews recent technical developments such as fast three-dimensional data acquisition and high-resolution image acquisition and processing techniques, in which novel information about bone strength may be obtained through analysis of trabecular microarchitecture.

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Authors
  1. G. Guglielmi
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  2. T. F. Lang
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  3. M. Cammisa
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  4. H. K. Genant
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, 94143-0628, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Harry K. Genant (Chief,Musculoskeletal Radiology, Professor of Radiology, Medicine, Epidemiology Orthopadic Surgery, Executive Director,Osteoporosis Arthritis Research Group) (Chief,Musculoskeletal Radiology, Professor of Radiology, Medicine, Epidemiology Orthopadic Surgery, Executive Director,Osteoporosis Arthritis Research Group)

  2. Department of Radiology, Scientific Institute Hospital “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, Viale Cappuccini, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy

    Giuseppe Guglielmi M.D.

  3. Department of Radiology, St. Josef-Hospital, Gudrunstraße 56, 44791, Bochum, Germany

    Michael Jergas M.D.

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© 1998 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Guglielmi, G., Lang, T.F., Cammisa, M., Genant, H.K. (1998). Quantitative Computed Tomography at the Axial Skeleton. In: Genant, H.K., Guglielmi, G., Jergas, M. (eds) Bone Densitometry and Osteoporosis. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-80440-3_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-80440-3_16

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-80442-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-80440-3

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