Bone Density
Midtown Imaging Women’s Center is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art
health care especially designed to meets the needs of women today. Bone
Density procedures are important diagnostic tools in women’s health
care. Women lose bone density from their mid-thirties on, at a rate
of about 1% per year. After menopause, that rate may double or triple.
This leads to osteoporosis, which carries a high risk of bone fractures.
A bone density scan measures the total density of bone in a person.
The lower the density of a bone, the higher the risk of fractures. A
bone scan, along with a patient's medical history, is a useful aid in
evaluating the probability of a fracture and whether any preventative
treatment is needed. A bone density scan has the advantage of being
painless while providing patients crucial information regarding their
health.
Bone density studies are most commonly used in defining the risks
of bone fracture caused by osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a progressive
systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and micro architectural
deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility
and susceptibility to fractures. A bone mineral density test, a non-invasive
and painless exam, is the best way to determine your bone health.
Benefits
Bone Density testing is the most accurate method available
for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. It is also considered an accurate
estimator of fracture risk. It cannot predict if you will suffer a fracture,
but provides relative risk of suffering a fracture, just as cholesterol
and blood pressure measurements help determine risk for heart disease.
A low reading should not cause you to be anxious but may help you set
healthy goals. As with other diseases and conditions, early detection
is the key to prevention.
Risks
No complications are expected with the Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry
(DEXA) procedure.
Who should be tested
Your doctor can help you determine whether you should have
a bone mineral density (BMD) test. The National Osteoporosis Foundation
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
- Postmenopausal women who present with fractures (to confirm the
diagnosis and determine disease severity).
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.
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