Correlation of total-body bone mineral content determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry with bone mineral density determined by peripheral quantitative computed tomography

We sought to determine the value of peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) in measuring bone mineral density. In 50 healthy, eugonodal premenopausal women, we correlated measurements of total bone mineral content (BMC TB), made with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and bone mineral density, determined by pQCT. The partial correlations, adjusted for weight and age, between BMC TB and cortical bone density, total bone density, and trabecular bone density were .71 ( p < .0001), .63 ( p < .0001); and .32 ( p < .05), respectively. These results and the advantages of pQCT—providing precise bone density determinations for trabecular and compact bone separately, having a high spatial resolution that allows a “compartmental” analysis of bone structure, having a low coefficient of variation, and having a minimal radiation dose (