10/28/2014 Bone Density Scans and Bone Health Screenings

Article Link: http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/living­with­osteoporosis­7/tests

Living With Osteoporosis

Bone Scans and Bone Health Screenings

When should you get a bone density scan, and why?
By Matthew Hoffman, MD
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

WebMD Archive

A bone density scan can detect thinning bones at an early stage. If you already have osteoporosis, bone scans
can also tell you how fast the disease is progressing.

But an abnormal bone scan can create as many questions as it answers. Who should get a bone density scan,
and what do the results mean? If your bone density is below normal, what can you expect, and what should
you do?

A Date With DEXA Recommended Related

to Osteoporosis
Most bone scans use a technology called DEXA (for dual energy X-ray
Symptoms of a Spinal
absorptiometry). In a DEXA scan, a person lies on a table while a technician Compression Fracture
aims a scanner mounted on a long arm. (Think of the machine that X-rays your
It is important to identify the
teeth at the dentist; the difference is that this test uses very low energy
symptoms of spinal
radiation.) compression fractures and
notify your doctor right away.
"DEXA currently is the easiest, most standardized form of bone density Sudden, severe back pain,
testing, so that's what we use," says Mary Rhee, MD, MS, an endocrinologist especially in older women,
and assistant professor of medicine at Emory University in Atlanta. may signal a spinal
compression fracture or
The DEXA scanner uses beams of very low-energy radiation to determine the another serious condition.
Anyone with significant back
density of the bone. The amount of radiation is tiny: about one-tenth of a
pain -- especially a woman
chest X-ray. The test is painless, and considered completely safe. Pregnant
who is near or over age 50 --
women should not get DEXA scans because the developing baby shouldn’t be should see a doctor. Most
exposed to radiation, no matter how low the dose, if possible. compression fractures in
women over 50 are due to
Measurements are usually taken at the hip, and sometimes the spine and osteoporosis and treatment
other sites. Insurance or Medicare generally pays for the test in women can help reduce the chance of
further compression
considered at risk for osteoporosis, or those already diagnosed with
fractures. One or more symp...
osteoporosis or osteopenia.
Read the Symptoms of a
Spinal Compression Fracture
Other less commonly used technologies can measure bone density. They
article > >
include:

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10/28/2014 Bone Density Scans and Bone Health Screenings

Variations of DEXA, which measure bone density in the forearm, finger, or heel.
Quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Essentially a CAT scan of the bones, QCT provides more
detailed images than DEXA.
Ultrasound of the bones in the heel, leg, kneecap, or other areas.

While all of these can determine bone density and osteoporosis risk, "DEXA is the most important test and is
the gold standard," says Felicia Cosman, MD, clinical director for the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

Interpreting Your DEXA Bone Scan Results: T-Scores and Z-Scores

DEXA scores are reported as "T-scores" and "Z-scores."

The T-score is a comparison of a person's bone density with that of a healthy 30-year-old of the same sex.
The Z-score is a comparison of a person's bone density with that of an average person of the same age and
sex.

Lower scores (more negative) mean lower bone density:

A T-score of ‐2.5 or lower qualifies as osteoporosis.

A T-score of ‐1.0 to ‐2.5 signifies osteopenia, meaning below-normal bone density without full
osteoporosis.

Multiplying the T-score by 10% gives a rough estimate of how much bone density has been lost.

Z-scores are not used to formally diagnose osteoporosis. Low Z-scores can sometimes be a clue to look for a
cause of osteoporosis.

DEXA Bone Scans: What Your T-Score Means

Being told your bones are thin is cause for concern, but not alarm. If your T-score is low, what can you expect?

First of all, unless you're a woman past menopause or a man older than 50, your risk of fracture is very low. In
these groups, even with a T-score less than -2.5, bones are usually strong and treatment isn't recommended.

On the other hand, if you've been told you have osteoporosis, take it
Recommended Related
seriously. Feeling fine is no protection at all: fractures of the spine can be to Osteoporosis
silent and painless. "Anyone with osteoporosis should be on some kind of Symptoms of a Spinal
treatment," according to Baker. Compression Fracture

It is important to identify the

For those with osteopenia (T-score between -1.0 and -2.5), the picture gets
symptoms of spinal
confusing. It's harder to predict fracture risk in this group of people. Focusing compression fractures and
too closely on the T-score can be a mistake. "The DEXA T-score is not a perfect notify your doctor right away.
predictor for bone health or fracture risk," says Rhee. Sudden, severe back pain,
especially in older women,
Actually, bone density (measured by T-score) is only one aspect of fracture may signal a spinal
risk. Your risk factors (see above) can be just as important. Using both the T- compression fracture or
another serious condition.
score and risk factors for fracture leads to better predictions.
Anyone with significant back
pain -- especially a woman
The World Health Organization is developing a formula using risk factors in
who is near or over age 50 --
combination with the T-score to determine 10-year fracture risk. "We'll should see a doctor. Most
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10/28/2014 Bone Density Scans and Bone Health Screenings

probably see this coming into use in the next few years," says Rhee. compression fractures in
women over 50 are due to
Bone Scan T-Scores: When It's Time to Treat osteoporosis and treatment
can help reduce the chance of
The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends treatment for: further compression
fractures. One or more symp...
Postmenopausal women with T-scores less than -2.0, regardless of risk Read the Symptoms of a
factors. Spinal Compression Fracture
article > >
Postmenopausal women with T-scores less than -1.5, with osteoporosis
risk factors present.

In addition, anyone with a fragility fracture (a fracture from a minor injury) should be treated for
osteoporosis. This is true regardless of the DEXA scan results.

Treatment generally begins with a bisphosphonate medicine (Actonel, Fosamax, Boniva, or Reclast). These
drugs are proven to increase bone density and reduce the risk of fracture. Other options include:

Estrogens (hormone replacement therapy)

Calcitonin
Teriparatide
Raloxifene

In addition, the National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends 1,200 milligrams of daily calcium intake --
through diet and/or supplements.

When Should You Get a Bone Density Scan?

When, and how often, you should get a bone density scan depends on your age, risk factors, and whether
you’ve already been diagnosed with thinning bones.

The general rule: anyone at risk for osteoporosis should get a bone density scan. Don’t wait for a fracture or a
formal diagnosis.

Postmenopausal women are at highest risk, because estrogen (which falls after menopause) preserves bone
strength. But men get osteoporosis, too. "They just get it later," says Mary Zoe Baker, MD, an endocrinologist
and professor of medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Usually around age 70,
"men start to catch up to women" in developing osteoporosis, according to Baker.

When Should You Get a Bone Density Scan? continued...

Major expert groups make the following recommendations for osteoporosis screening and bone scans:

Women over age 65: All women over the age of 65 should get a DEXA scan, according to the National
Osteoporosis Foundation and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Postmenopausal women under age 65: For women under 65, a bone scan is not
Recommended Related
universally recommended. The National Osteoporosis Foundation to Osteoporosis
recommends a bone scan for women with risk factors for osteoporosis: Symptoms of a Spinal
Compression Fracture
History of bone fracture as an adult
It is important to identify the
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10/28/2014 Bone Density Scans and Bone Health Screenings

Current smoking symptoms of spinal

compression fractures and
History of ever taking oral steroids for more than 3 months
notify your doctor right away.
Body weight under 127 pounds
Sudden, severe back pain,
Having an immediate family member with a fragility fracture (a broken bone especially in older women,
from a minor injury, suggesting osteoporosis). may signal a spinal
compression fracture or
Premenopausal women: Generally, premenopausal women should not get another serious condition.
bone scans. Even with an abnormal DEXA scan, the risk of fracture is still very Anyone with significant back
pain -- especially a woman
low, and treatment isn't recommended. "The No. 1 rule is, don't get the test
who is near or over age 50 --
unless you know you're going to treat" if the result is abnormal, says Baker.
should see a doctor. Most
compression fractures in
Men: Experts differ in their recommendations for bone scans for men. The
women over 50 are due to
National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends all men over the age of 70 osteoporosis and treatment
should get a bone scan. At that age, "many men are on their way to developing can help reduce the chance of
osteoporosis," says Cosman. further compression
fractures. One or more symp...
Bone Scans for Osteoporosis: How Often? Read the Symptoms of a
Spinal Compression Fracture
If you've been told you have thin bones, you'll want to know if they're article > >
improving or getting worse over time. How often should a bone scan be done?

Medicare and many insurance companies will pay for a bone scan every two years in women with
osteoporosis or who are at high risk. Because the response to treatment occurs slowly, this is usually an
acceptable time interval, according to Rhee.

"In cases with high bone turnover rates, like women taking high-dose steroids," checking bone density as
often as every six months may be necessary, says Rhee.

For women with a normal bone scan, waiting a few years to retest is fine, adds Rhee.

Another thing to keep in mind: not all DEXA scanners are created equal. There are slight differences in the
calibration of different manufacturers' machines. Ideally, you should get all your bone scans on the same
DEXA scanner. Getting retested on a different manufacturer's scanner could give a false impression of bone
loss (or gain).

Besides the Bone Scan: Other Tests for Osteoporosis

Are other tests needed besides a bone scan for osteoporosis? Certain medical conditions can cause thinning
of the bones. These include:

Kidney disease
Hyperparathyroidism (overactive secretion of parathyroid hormone)
Vitamin D deficiency
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
Liver disease
Intestinal disease

By taking your medical history and checking routine laboratory blood tests, your doctor can detect these and
other causes for low bone density.

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10/28/2014 Bone Density Scans and Bone Health Screenings

Since estrogen keeps bones strong, can getting your estrogen levels checked help? "Probably not," says Baker.
Rarely, perimenopausal women with heavy periods might need hormone checks. But for the vast majority,
"DEXA is the only test they need."

SOURCES:
National Osteoporosis Foundation web site: "Fast Facts."
Khan, A. CMAJ, 2002; vol 167: pp 1141-1145.
Cranney, A. Endocrine Reviews, 2002; vol 23: pp 496-507.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: "Osteoporosis: Prevention and
Treatment."
National Osteoporosis Foundation web site: "Physician's Guide to
Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis."
Committee statement, Journal of Clinical Densitometry, 2004; vol 7: pp
17-26.
Wainwright, S. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2005;
vol 90: pp 2787-2793.
National Osteoporosis Foundation web site: "BMD Testing: What the
Numbers Mean."
Kolta, S. Osteoporosis International, 1999; vol 10: pp 14-19.
Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors' Task Force:
"Technical White Paper: Bone Densitometry," October 2006.
Mary Rhee, MD, MS, endocrinologist and assistant professor of
medicine, Emory University, Atlanta.
Felicia Cosman, MD, clinical director, National Osteoporosis
Foundation.
Mary Zoe Baker, MD, endocrinologist and professor of medicine,
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Reviewed on April 27, 2009
© 2007 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.

My Notes:

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