Diagnostic imaging methods aimed to detect osteoporosis range from the visual analysis of bone structure on plain skeletal radiographs to quantitative imaging techniques that enable accurate measurement of bone mineral density (BMD), such as quantitative computed tomography (QCT). According to the guidelines for diagnosis and treatment, dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) still represents the "gold standard" for diagnosis of osteoporosis and fracture risk prediction. This paper illustrates the current possibilities and recent advances the in application of bone densitometry.