Densitometría mineral ósea en pacientes pediátricos: interpretación de resultados e indicaciones / Indications and interpretation of results of pediatric bone densitometry

ABSTRACT

There is a growing interest in the evaluation of bone mass in children, to support the adequate management of several diseases in this age group. This interest was boosted by the improvement in bone mass measuring techniques and by the increase in the incidence of osteoporosis during childhood, due to the longer lifespan of children with congenital or acquired diseases. Other reason to measure bone mass is that an adequate bone accretion in children will prevent osteoporosis during adulthood. The extensive use of bone densitometry in children requires an adequate knowledge about its indications and interpretation. The morphology, size and constitution of the skeleton of child changes constantly, therefore densitometry results cannot be interpreted as those of a small adult. We review the advances in pediatric bone densitometry, specially its indications and the interpretation of results.