Research by Swiss scientists could open the way to better diagnosis and treatment for osteoporosis sufferers.

Susanne Schweizer and colleagues at ETH Zurich in Switzerland have synthesised reference materials - or 'phantoms' - that allow micro-computed tomography (µ-CT) to be used for measuring mineral content of individual bone struts. Scans currently used to diagnose osteoporosis measure the mineral density of bones over a relatively large area. Knowledge of the mineral density of patient's bones on a more local scale should aid the diagnosis of osteoporosis at an earlier stage, and help determine the most appropriate treatment, explained Schweizer.

µ-CT is a well established research technique for studying bones in three dimensions. Previous attempts to use it in accurate measurements of bone density were hindered by a lack of good phantoms needed to calibrate the machine for this purpose, explained Schweizer. 

She has now overcome the hurdles, making phantoms that properly mimic the way bones reflect X-rays from the scanner.

Schweizer said that these phantoms are already being used in µ-CT studies of live rodents, with clinical applications being the end goal.

Nina Athey-Pollard