HR-pQCT
Also called: high resolution peripheral quantitative CT, HRpQCT scan
What it means
HR-pQCT is a detailed 3D CT scan used mostly in research to look closely at the structure of bone at the wrist or ankle, separating the outer cortical shell from the inner spongy trabecular bone.
It shows bone structure details, like tiny holes forming in bone or how connected the spongy bone is, that a standard DEXA scan can't capture.
HR-pQCT stands for high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT. It's a specialized imaging scan, used mainly in research settings, that takes detailed 3D pictures of bone at the wrist (distal radius) or ankle (distal tibia). Unlike a standard DEXA scan, it can separate cortical bone (the dense outer shell) from trabecular bone (the spongy inner mesh) and measure their microarchitecture separately.
This matters because DEXA reports bone density as a flat, 2D number, which can miss important structural details. HR-pQCT can detect things like cortical porosity (tiny holes forming in the outer bone) and trabecular connectivity, both of which affect how much force a bone can withstand before breaking, independent of density alone. It can also be paired with computer modeling to estimate actual bone strength.
For most people managing everyday bone health, a DEXA scan and routine blood work remain the standard tools your doctor will use, since HR-pQCT machines are specialized and not widely available in regular clinics. HR-pQCT is more commonly used in research studies looking closely at how bone structure changes with aging, disease, or interventions.
HR-pQCT reveals fine bone structure details, like tiny holes or spongy bone connections, that standard DEXA scans miss.
Where this leads
WordHR-pQCT separates outer and inner bone. Want to understand what that spongy inner trabecular bone actually does for your strength?
Where the Academy teaches it
This page is the short version. The lessons teach it in full, with the context around it and a quiz to lock it in.
Related words
A DEXA scan is a low-radiation X-ray test that measures how much mineral is in your hip and spine bones, giving you…
QCT (quantitative computed tomography) is an imaging test that uses CT scanning to measure bone density, including…
Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) is a measurement taken from your spine DEXA image that estimates how well-connected your…
Cortical bone is the dense, hard outer layer of bone that forms a protective shell and resists bending and twisting…
Trabecular bone is the spongy, honeycomb-like bone found inside structures like your spine and hip, providing…
Bone mineral density (BMD) measures how much mineral is packed into your bones, usually estimated with a DEXA scan,…
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