CORRELATION OF TOTAL-BODY BONE-MINERAL CONTENT DETERMINED BY DUAL-ENERGY X-RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY WITH BONE-MINERAL DENSITY DETERMINED BY PERIPHERAL QUANTITATIVE COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY

Rationale and Objectives. We sought to determine the value of peripher al quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) in measuring bone mineral d ensity. Methods. In 50 healthy, eugonodal premenopausal women, we corr elated measurements of total bone mineral content (BMC(TB)). made with dual-energy X-ra)I absorptiometry (DXA), and bone mineral density, de termined by pQCT. Results. The partial correlations, adjusted for weig ht and age, between BMC(TB) and cortical bone density, total bone dens ity, and trabecular bone density were .71 (p < .0001), .63 (p < .0001) , and .32 (p < .05) respectively. Conclusion. These results and the ad vantages of pQCT-providing precise bone density determinations for tra becular and compact bone separately, having a high spatial resolution that allows a ''compartmental'' analysis analysis of bone structure, h aving a low coefficient of variation, and having a minimal radiation d ose (<5 mrem)-confirm the adequacy of using this method for bone mass studies.