Bone mineral density assessment using mammography system

A radiographic imaging system for capturing an image of a body extremity, the image being suitable for determining a bone mineral density, the system comprising:

• a support for supporting the body extremity;
• an x-ray source configured to project an x-ray beam through the body extremity, the x-ray source having a voltage of no more than 45 kVp and having a target/filter combination of rhodium/rhodium, molybdenum/molybdenum, molybdenum/rhodium, or tungsten/rhodium;
• a detector configured to receive the x-ray beam after the x-ray beam passes through the body extremity and to capture an image of the body extremity;
• and
• an attenuation filter separate from the target/filter combination, the attenuation filter being positioned between the x-ray source and the detector and between the body extremity and the detector, the attenuation filter being configured to attenuate a low-energy portion of the x-ray beam that has passed through the body extremity.