Salud Pública de México Print version ISSN 0036-3634 CAMERON,
John R. and SORENSON, James. Measurement of bone mineral in
vivo: an improved method. Salud pública Méx [online]. 2009,
vol.51, suppl.1, pp. s126-s131. ISSN 0036-3634.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0036-36342009000700016. The mineral
content of bone can be determined by measuring the absorption by
bone of a monochromatic, low-energy photon beam which originates
in a radioactive source (iodine-125 at 27.3 kev or americium-241
at 59.6 kev). The intensity of the beam transmitted by the bone
is measured by counting with a scintillation detector. Since the
photon source and detector are well collimated, errors resulting
from scattered radiation are reduced. From measurements of the
intensity of the transmitted beam, made at intervals across the
bone, the total mineral content of the bone can be determined.
The results are accurate and reproducible to within about 3
percent.