Development of smaller portable DXA units for peripheral scans occurred in which decade?

Development of smaller portable DXA units for peripheral scans occurred in which decade?

• A. 1980s
• B. 1990s
• C. 2000s
• D. 2010s

Answer: (B)

The question is about when DXA technology first moved into small, portable units for peripheral bone density scanning. Early DXA systems in the 1980s were large, stationary machines used mainly for spine and hip measurements. In the following decade, technology improved and miniaturization allowed devices to be built specifically for peripheral sites like the forearm or heel. These smaller portable units made bone density assessment feasible outside a full radiology suite, in clinics, community settings, or research environments. That shift—the introduction of compact, peripheral DXA devices—occurs in the 1990s, making it the best answer.

The question is about when DXA technology first moved into small, portable units for peripheral bone density scanning. Early DXA systems in the 1980s were large, stationary machines used mainly for spine and hip measurements. In the following decade, technology improved and miniaturization allowed devices to be built specifically for peripheral sites like the forearm or heel. These smaller portable units made bone density assessment feasible outside a full radiology suite, in clinics, community settings, or research environments. That shift—the introduction of compact, peripheral DXA devices—occurs in the 1990s, making it the best answer.