Normalområder og kvalitetskontrol for dual energy X-ray absorptiometry-skanning

The prevalence of osteoporosis is increasing. Today 30% to 40% of all women and 10% to 15% of all men aged 50 and above will suffer an osteoporotic fracture in their remaining lifetime. Bone mass measurement is a non-invasive surrogate measurement for bone strength. The technique can also be used in children and provides important information about bone accretion, but the results may be difficult to interpret due to variation in body size and the limited availability of reliable reference ranges. In children, age, size and pubertal development should be taken into account. DXA is a valuable method in the diagnosis of osteoporosis and in monitoring treatment, but it must be handled carefully. Use of a definitive and validated reference material for all patients and a systematic daily quality assurance protocol is required. A national quality assurance programmeis needed to ensure that all Danish clinics report the same T-score for any given patient.