Body density screening -
Although osteoporosis is more common in older women, men also can develop the condition. Regardless of your sex or age, your doctor may recommend a bone density test if you've:. Be sure to tell your doctor beforehand if you've recently had a barium exam or had contrast material injected for a CT scan or nuclear medicine test.
Contrast materials might interfere with your bone density test. Wear loose, comfortable clothing and avoid wearing clothes with zippers, belts or buttons.
Leave your jewelry at home and remove all metal objects from your pockets, such as keys, money clips or change. At some facilities, you may be asked to change into an examination gown. Bone density tests are usually done on bones in the spine vertebrae , hip, forearm, wrist, fingers and heel.
Bone density tests are usually done on bones that are most likely to break because of osteoporosis, including:. If you have your bone density test done at a hospital, it'll probably be done on a device where you lie on a padded platform while a mechanical arm passes over your body.
The amount of radiation you're exposed to is very low, much less than the amount emitted during a chest X-ray. The test usually takes about 10 to 30 minutes. A small, portable machine can measure bone density in the bones at the far ends of your skeleton, such as those in your finger, wrist or heel.
The instruments used for these tests are called peripheral devices and are often used at health fairs. Because bone density can vary from one location in your body to another, a measurement taken at your heel usually isn't as accurate a predictor of fracture risk as a measurement taken at your spine or hip.
Consequently, if your test on a peripheral device is positive, your doctor might recommend a follow-up scan at your spine or hip to confirm your diagnosis. Your T-score is your bone density compared with what is normally expected in a healthy young adult of your sex.
Your T-score is the number of units — called standard deviations — that your bone density is above or below the average. Your score is a sign of osteopenia, a condition in which bone density is below normal and may lead to osteoporosis.
Your Z-score is the number of standard deviations above or below what's normally expected for someone of your age, sex, weight, and ethnic or racial origin. If your Z-score is significantly higher or lower than the average, you may need additional tests to determine the cause of the problem.
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Overview A bone density test determines if you have osteoporosis — a disorder characterized by bones that are more fragile and more likely to break. Bone density Enlarge image Close.
Bone density With bone loss, the outer shell of a bone becomes thinner and the interior becomes more porous. More Information Anorexia nervosa Hyperparathyroidism Hypoparathyroidism Kyphosis Osteoporosis Show more related information. Request an appointment.
Screening tests cannot accurately diagnose osteoporosis and should not be used to see how well an osteoporosis medicine is working. Most people need a prescription or referral from their healthcare provider to have a bone density test.
The ideal facility is one with staff that are trained and certified by an organization such as the ISCD, and better yet, one that has been accredited by the ISCD. Most hospital radiology departments, private radiology groups, and some medical practices offer bone density testing.
When you go for your appointment, be sure to take the prescription or referral with you. The testing center will send your bone density test results to your healthcare provider. You may want to make an appointment to discuss your results with your healthcare provider.
As with any medical test, bone density should be repeated when the results might influence treatment plans. It is often repeated years after starting or changing osteoporosis medication to evaluate response to treatment. It might also be repeated in years if you are not being treated but are close to a treatment threshold.
Subsequent testing varies according to your individual situation. For postmenopausal women and men age 50 years and older, the T-score is the number that is used for diagnostic classification, as follows:.
It is important to recognize that you may be diagnosed with osteoporosis when the T-score is better than Also, when the T-score is or below, you could have disease other than osteoporosis, such as osteomalacia or multiple myeloma.
Your healthcare provider can evaluate you to be sure the diagnosis is correct or refer you to someone who can.
The results of your bone density test, combined with all available clinical information, including your personal preference and previous experience with medications, can help with deciding to start, continue, or change medication to make your bones stronger and reduce the risk of breaking bones.
Medications have been tested and approved for prevention and for treatment of osteoporosis. Each of these medications has its pros and cons.
If you need take a medication, any one of them may be better than none, but some are better than others for increasing bone density and reducing the risk of breaking bones. Talk with your healthcare provider to find out which is best for you.
If you decide not to take a medication, it is often a good idea to monitor your bone density and reconsider your treatment decisions from time to time. Regardless of whether you take a prescription medication, remember the essentials for good bone health: regular weight-bearing and muscle strengthening physical activity, maintaining good balance, avoiding falls, adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, not smoking, avoiding excessive alcohol intake, and when possible, avoiding or minimizing exposure to drugs that are harmful to bones, such as prednisone.
Scans and other x-rays are strictly monitored and controlled to make sure they use the least possible amount of radiation.
The benefits of having a bone density scan outweigh the risk of exposure to the small amount of radiation received during the scan. A bone density scan tells your doctor how strong your bones are by using a numbered score.
Your doctor will use this score to discuss whether you have normal bone mass, low bone mass or osteoporosis. A bone density scan can also predict how likely you are to break a bone over the next 10 years by using a percentage.
Your doctor will use this percentage to discuss if you have a low, moderate or high risk. Your doctor will decide whether further tests, procedures, follow-up care or additional treatment are needed. Preparing children before a test or procedure can help lower their anxiety, increase their cooperation and develop their coping skills.
This includes explaining to children what will happen during the test, such as what they will see, feel and hear. Preparing a child for a bone density scan depends on the age and experience of the child.
Find out more about helping your child cope with tests and treatments. The information that the Canadian Cancer Society provides does not replace your relationship with your doctor. The information is for your general use, so be sure to talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions or if you have questions about your health.
We do our best to make sure that the information we provide is accurate and reliable but cannot guarantee that it is error-free or complete.
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