Book dossier

Noninvasive assessment of trabecular bone architecture and the competence of bone

by Sharmila Majumdar

The study of bone microarchitecture is flourishing because of a recent shift in perspective that has taken researchers beyond utilizing bone mineral density as the primary source of information about certain matters related to bone. In the area of osteoporosis and skeletal changes, bone mineral density (BMD) is widely used for screening, monitoring and assessing therapeutic efficacy, and yet, it is currently accepted that BMD does not fully explain the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, the process of aging, nor mechanisms of therapeutic efficacy. In this context, the study of trabecular microarchitecture has much to contribute. The emerging field of trabecular microarchitecture, however, is diverse, inter-disciplinary and encompasses many different imaging modalities. This volume represents a compilation of papers from world-renowned researchers, reflecting the most current research in the area of noninvasive assessment of trabecular microcarchitecture. This varied research applies sophisticated imaging tools to questions of bone biomechanics at both the basic science and clinical levels. The authors' works range from review articles and research articles to works in progress. Taken together, they offer a foray into the "state of the art" of investigating bone at its most basic levels.