Bronwyn Stuckey AM
Medical Director, Keogh Institute for Medical Research
In clinical practice we usually trust the providers of pathology and radiology to provide accurate reports. When it comes to bone density, so much of the decision to either institute anti-resorptive treatment or change treatment depends on the bone density or reported change in bone density. Often we receive the report but not the scanning image, and sometimes the comment on the report is generated by the machine, not by the person who signs it. It is worthwhile taking the time to check the quality control of the bone density scan image, rather than just read the report. This is especially the case if the report states there is a significant change in bone density which may prompt a change in treatment.
In this presentation I will show what bone density scanning images should look like, detail what we should expect from a quality bone density report, and include examples of errors and artefacts that should be taken into account in interpreting bone densitometry.
“A picture is worth a thousand words”