DXA provides a two-dimensional measurement of:

• Total body bone mass
• Lean and fat mass
• Regional bone mass and density 

We use Hologic QDR-4500A densitometers (Hologic Inc., Bedford, MA) to perform DXA scans on both clinical and research patients.  Scans available include whole body, AP lumbar spine, lateral spine, proximal femur or hip, forearm and distal femur.

We have the latest software (Apex) from Hologic Inc. for scan analysis and an FDA-approved pediatric reference database. The software includes a new “auto low density” mode for analyses of spine, hip and whole body scans. This new analysis mode uses lowered thresholds at which the algorithms determine bone and soft tissue to account for smaller body sizes. The analysis program automatically determines which threshold to use based on the body size it detects. This allows for a more accurate and reliable assessment of pediatric bone density and body composition.

Additionally, we have high-power whole-body software to be used in people over 250 pounds.  This allows for more accurate analysis of lean and fat tissue in larger body sizes but also increases the radiation exposure by a factor of three for total body scans.

We operate a Stratec XCT 2000 pQCT (Orthometrix, White Plains, NY) that measures volumetric bone mineral density (BMD) and cross-sectional bone dimensions at peripheral skeletal sites in the radius and tibia.

The three-dimensional pQCT allows for selective measurement of:

• Biomechanical strain strength indices
• Bone area
• Cortical area and thickness
• Cortical and trabecular bone density
• Muscle cross-sectional area
• Periosteal and endosteal circumference