Assessing the Potential of Flat-Panel Fluoroscopy CT to Quantify Vertebral Trabecular Architecture In Vivo

Osteoporosis is an affection of the skeleton in elderly leading to loss of bone mass and strength and, consequently, to an increased bone fracture risk. Such fractures can have dramatic consequences for the patient and it has been stated that the prevention of fractures should be the primary goal. This, in turn, requires an accurate diagnosis of bone strength. Presently, the diagnosis of bone strength is merely based on measurements of bone mass using DXA. It is known, however, that the measurement of bone mass alone is not a very accurate predictor for patient-specific bone strength.