Diagnosis of Osteoporosis
Who should be tested?
Certainly those with more than one clinical risk factor should be considered at risk of osteoporosis. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has determined that osteoporosis is best evaluated by measuring a person’s bone mass. This result, coupled with clinical risk factors, best allows a strategy for identifying those at risk of fracture and who to treat.
What is a bone density scan (DEXA scan)?
A person’s bone mass is measured using a bone density scan – a simple, quick and painless scan that takes about 15 minutes and involves a small amount of X-rays (about 1/30th of a standard chest X-ray). Usually, the hip and lower spine are measured and results are categorised into 3 diagnostic groups - Normal, Osteopenia or Osteoporosis. There is often unnecessary alarm raised when a patient is told that she/he has osteopenia – it means that there is some bone thinning but it does not necessarily mean that the individual is at high risk of fracture. The fact is that the majority of the population over the age of 60 will have osteopenia. Bone density scans are very important in deciding who to treat but so are the clinical risk factors. Having had a bone density scan (DEXA), it is important that a specialist interprets the results appropriately for that individual.