Application of DEXA in body composition assessment in children

AbstractClinical and research applications of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in childhood are reviewed. Originally used for bone mineralization assessment in adults with osteoporosis, total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is now also used currently alone or combined with other techniques for assessment of fat mass and fat-free mass. Low invasiveness, accuracy, swiftness and availability of pediatric software make total-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry suitable for studying body composition in a wide variety of metabolic and nutritional disorders in childhood such as simple or genetic obesity, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, congenital hypothyroidism, celiac disease, asthma, growth hormone deficiency and cachexic states.
Source: Annals of Diagnostic Paediatric Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research