Osteoporosis is progressive bone loss which is associated with increased risk of fractures. The term osteoporosis means 'porous bone.' It can be diagnosed by measuring the bone mineral density (BMD). This is a disease that causes bones to become fragile and to break and could be detected when bone is broken.
Today a bone density test, also called densitometry or DEXA scan, can determine the presence of osteoporosis or the risk of osteoporosis before you break any bones. This osteoporosis test is simple, accurate and could be used at home. You then send out the sample in a pre-paid envelope provided and the results will be posted back to you, discreetly. The presence of DpD (a chemical involved in re-absorption of the bone) in the urine is detected by the osteoporosis test. At the age of 40, a base line screening may be advised followed by a screening after about one year after the start of menopause. The preventive measures could be adopted at the age of 51-55yrs or after five years after menopause.
Tests
Testing screens for bone density loss or evaluates bone status or for unexpected bone fractures and could also observe effective osteoporosis therapy. Diagnostic imaging is used in the Bone Mineral Density test, the primary screening and diagnostic test for osteoporosis.
The primary test which is the bone mineral density (BMD) test is used to identify osteoporosis and low bone mass. The most accurate way is the Dexa-Scan (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry or DXA). Low energy x-ray is used to determine the bone density in the spine/hip. Heels or fingers are scanned by portable BMD screening devices, utilized at some health fairs, pharmacies, etc. It may be used as initial scan but may not be accurate as DXA. When it shows positive for decreased bone density test, DXA scan could be performed for confirmation. This can also be diagnosed through ultrasounds, X-rays and CT scans. Bone scan is another diagnostic imaging test, which is not the same as BMD or the bone density scan. The BMD test indicates osteoporosis and is non-invasive. A radioactive tracer is induced into a vein in the arm that travels through the blood and is absorbed by the bones. It evaluates and detects the level of radioactivity in the bone and points to conditions or diseases such as infection, metastatic cancer, Paget’s disease or causes of unexplained bone pain. This scan may be ordered with patients having a high frequency of bone fractures and discovers problems with the bones much earlier than a regular X-ray.
According to recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), regular tests need to be done for women, for osteoporosis, at the age of 65 and above. Quantitative computed tomography (CT) is a procedure mostly used to measure bone density in the lower back. The CT scanner used determines the accuracy and scanning time and may vary from different centers.
Quantitative CT exposes patients to a much higher level of radiation than regular CT and should not be used for pregnant women, if the woman is in the early stage of pregnancy or women of childbearing age.
Osteoporosis Test
Osteoporosis: What Is It, Who Does It Affect?
