Osteoporosis is a silent and frequent
disease , which increases fracture
risk . Approximately half of
women and one of five
men over 50 years old
will suffer an
osteoporotic fracture throughout their lives.
Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) allows a real
bone mineral density (BMD) measurement in different parts of the
skeleton and is considered the "
gold standard" for quantifying
osteoporosis with high accuracy and precision. The
Board of the Chilean Society of
Endocrinology and Diabetes (SOCHED) required from the
Bone Disease Study Group to develop a
consensus about the "Correct use of
bone densitometry in clinical practice in Chilean
population ". Therefore, we elaborated 25 questions which addressed key aspects about the indications for a
DXA scan , and the details of how to perform and
report this test. Since some of the evidence obtained was of low quality or inconclusive, we decided to create a multidisciplinary group of national experts in
osteoporosis to develop a
consensus in this subject. The group consisted of 22
physicians including
endocrinologists ,
gynecologists ,
geriatricians ,
radiologists ,
rheumatologists and
nuclear medicine specialists . Using the Delphi
methodology to analyze previously agreed questions, we elaborated
statements that were evaluated by the experts
who expressed their degree of agreement. The final
report of this
consensus was approved by the SOCHED
board .