Lateral scanning of the lumbar spine: Bone mineral density determination with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry

In order to exclude the metabolically less-active cortical bone in the posterior portion of the lumbar spine, and to exclude the calcification of abdominal aorta which frepuently occurs in elderly persons, both of which are included in the conventional anteroposterior (AP) bone mineral determinations, clinical interest has been directed toward lateral scanning. In this paper, the performance and clinical application of lateral scanning with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) have been reviewed.