It wasn't all that long ago when the only way to detect osteoporosis was after a bone was broken. Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and are more apt to fracture and break. Nowadays, quick and easy bone density tests are available. One test is as convenient as simply stopping at your local drugstore.
Who Should be Tested
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends all women age 65 and over get a routine bone density screening. If you are at a higher risk of osteoporosis, testing should begin at age 60.
The Mayo Clinic says white and Southeast Asian men and women have a greater chance of developing osteoporosis than people of African American and Hispanic descent.
Bone Density Tests
A bone density test uses uniquely crafted X-rays to gauge how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals are bunched together into a segment of bone.
Bone density tests are different from bone scans that are used to spot fractures and detect cancer and other irregularities in the bone. There are a few types of bone density tests.
Peripheral Bone Density Devices
Peripheral bone density devices are small machines available for use in places such as pharmacies. This equipment is not as accurate as the more sophisticated central devices that are generally found in health care clinics.
Since bone density typically varies from one spot to another, a measurement taken at a peripheral location such as your heel or finger isn't as precise as a measurement taken at the spine or hip.
Nevertheless peripheral devices are good screening tools. If they show a positive result your doctor may suggest you undergo a central device bone density test to confirm the peripheral findings.
Central Bone Density Devices
Central device bone density scans are considered to be more accurate than peripheral tests, but they are also more costly. The two types of central device tests are the DEXA scan and the Quantitative CT scan.
DEXA Scan
The dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans calculate the bone density at your hip or spine. This scan is known for its accuracy and is the favored test for diagnosing osteoporosis.
During the procedure, a mechanical arm type device called an imager moves across, but does not touch your body as you lie on a padded platform.
The test emits only a fraction of the radiation received during a chest X-ray and is quick and painless. It usually takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish.
Quantitative CT Scan
The computerized tomography (CT) scanner works in conjunction with computer software to measure your bone density, most commonly at your spine.
Quantitative CT (QCT) scans offer complete 3-D images as you lie on a movable table that's steered into a large area that resembles a tube.
These scans produce more radiation than DEXA scans.
Testing Limitations & Frequency
A bone density test can detect low bone density, but it doesn't reveal the source of the problem. That requires a complete physical examination.
The Mayo Clinic says there is no recommended frequency in which to undergo a bone density test. However, at least two years may be needed between screenings to correctly assess change in your bone density.
Tags: bone density, bone density, bone density test, density test, bone density
