Clinical use of bone densitometry

IF measurements of bone mass are to be clinically useful, they must be safe, precise, accurate, and of reasonable cost in relation to the information provided. Since when bone mass is low the clinical outcome of concern is fracture, there must be a demonstrated relation between the measurement and the subsequent risk of fracture. The information provided must be helpful to the clinician in making a decision to intervene or not; and if a therapeutic regimen is chosen, it must have a positive influence on health (e.g., a reduction in the incidence of fractures) without an unreasonable increase in other.