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The only
sure way to determine bone density and
fracture risk for osteoporosis
is to
have a bone mass measurement (also
called bone mineral density or BMD
test).
Your
doctor can help you determine whether
you should have a BMD test.
NOF
Guidelines indicate, BMD testing should
be performed on:
-
All
women aged 65 and older regardless
of risk factors*
-
Younger postmenopausal women with
one or more risk factors (other than
being white, postmenopausal and
female).
-
Postmenopausal women who present
with fractures (to confirm the
diagnosis and determine disease
severity).
*Note:
Medicare covers BMD testing for the
following individuals aged 65 and older:
-
Estrogen deficient women at clinical
risk for osteoporosis
-
Individuals with vertebral
abnormalities
-
Individuals receiving, or planning
to receive, long-term glucocorticoid
(steroid) therapy
-
Individuals with primary
hyperparathyroidism
-
Individuals being monitored to
assess the response or efficacy of
an approved osteoporosis drug
therapy.
Medicare
permits individuals to repeat BMD
testing every two years.
There are
several ways to measure bone mineral
density; all are painless, noninvasive
and safe and are becoming more readily
available. In many testing centers you
don't even have to change into an
examination robe.
The tests
measure bone density in your spine, hip
and/or wrist, the most common sites of
fractures due to osteoporosis. Recently,
bone density tests have been approved by
the FDA that measure bone density in the
middle finger and the heel or shinbone.
Your bone density is compared to two
standards, or norms, known as "age
matched" and "young normal." The
age-matched reading compares your bone
density to what is expected in someone
of your age, sex and size. The young
normal reading compares your density to
the optimal peak bone density of a
healthy young adult of the same sex.
The
information from a bone density test
enables your doctor to identify where
you stand within ranges of normal and to
determine whether you are at risk for
fracture. In general, the lower your
bone density, the higher your risk for
fracture. Test results will help you and
your doctor decide the best course of
action for your bone health.
 Types
of BMD Tests
There are
several different machines that measure
bone density. Central machines measure
density in the hip, spine and total
body. Peripheral machines measure
density in the finger, wrist, kneecap,
shin bone and heel.
-
DXA
(Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry)
measures the spine, hip or total
body;
-
pDXA
(Peripheral Dual Energy X-ray
Absorptiometry) measures the wrist,
heel or finger;
-
SXA
(single Energy X-ray Absorptiometry)
measures the wrist or heel;
-
QUS
(Quantitative Ultrasound) uses sound
waves to measure density at the
heel, shin bone and kneecap.
-
QCT
(Quantitative Computed Tomography)
most commonly used to measure the
spine, but can be used at other
sites;
-
pQCT
(Peripheral Quantitative Computed
Tomography) measures the wrist;
-
RA
(Radiographic Absorptiometry) uses
an X-ray of the hand and a small
metal wedge to calculate bone
density;
-
DPA
(Dual Photon Absorptiometry)
measures the spine, hip or total
body (used infrequently);
-
SPA
(Single Photon Absorptiometry)
measures the wrist (used
infrequently);
With the
information obtained from a BMD test,
you and your doctor can decide what
prevention or treatment steps are right
for you. BMD tests cannot stand alone;
they should always be a part of a
complete medical workup supervised by a
knowledgeable doctor.
Learn more about reading the results of
a BMD test. |
