The vertebral information may ibterpretation be presented for other combinations interpretatiin fewer than four vertebrae b. VFA DEXA scan interpretation a intetpretation x-ray examination Warrior diet self-discipline the spine to Intepretation for vertebral fractures that Intetpretation performed on the DXA machine. They can also offer lifestyle advice, to help you protect your bones. At the same time, another scanning machine called a photon generator will pass beneath you. Kanis JA, Melton LJ III, Christiansen C, Johnston CC, Khaltaev N. What is it used for? Some of the X-rays that are passed through your body will be absorbed by tissue, such as fat and bone.

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The Best Tests for Osteoporosis NOT DEXA

DEXA scan interpretation -

Ultrasound — Ultrasound can be used to measure the bone density of the heel. This may be useful to determine a person's fracture risk. However, it is used less frequently than DXA because there are no guidelines that use ultrasound measurements to diagnose osteoporosis or predict fracture risk.

In areas that do not have access to DXA, ultrasound is an acceptable way to measure bone density. WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A DXA TEST. During dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry DXA , you lie on an examination table. An x-ray detector scans a bone region, and the amount of x-rays that pass through bone are measured and displayed as an image that is interpreted by a radiologist or metabolic bone expert.

The test causes no discomfort, involves no injections or special preparation, and usually takes only 5 to 10 minutes. The x-ray detector will detect any metal on your clothing zippers, belt buckles , so you may be asked to wear a gown for the test. It is also recommended that you avoid taking calcium supplements in the 24 hours before your test, as these supplements can sometimes interfere with the images.

The amount of radiation used in DXA is minimal, amounting to roughly the same radiation that an average person gets from the environment in one day.

After the test is completed and the doctor interprets the results, you will be given a score that speaks to the condition of your bones. WHAT DO THE RESULTS MEAN? The results of a bone density test are expressed either as a "T" or a "Z" score.

T-scores represent numbers that compare the condition of your bones with those of an average young person with healthy bones. Z-scores instead represent numbers that compare the condition of your bones with those of an average person your age.

Of these two numbers, the T-score is usually the most important. T-scores are usually in the negative or minus range. The lower the bone density T-score, the greater the risk of fracture table 1.

People who have a score in this range do not typically need treatment, but it is useful for them to take steps to prevent bone loss, such as having adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D and doing weightbearing exercise.

Low bone mass osteopenia — Low bone mass osteopenia is the term health care providers use to describe bone density that is lower than normal but that has not yet reached the low levels seen with osteoporosis.

A person with osteopenia does not yet have osteoporosis but is at risk of developing it. People with osteopenia have a T-score between If you have other risk factors for fracture see 'Risk factors for fracture' above and have a T-score in the osteopenic range, you may be at high risk for fracture.

People with low bone mass are usually advised to take steps to prevent osteoporosis. Sometimes that includes taking medications. Osteoporosis — People with osteoporosis have a T-score of Larger numbers eg, The lower the bone density, the greater the risk of fracture.

If you discover that you have osteoporosis, there are several things you can do to reduce the chances that you will break a bone. For instance, you can take osteoporosis medications combined with calcium and vitamin D supplements, and you can do an exercise program.

See "Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health Beyond the Basics " and "Patient education: Osteoporosis prevention and treatment Beyond the Basics ".

Note that if you have previously had a low trauma bone fracture, you are also classified as having osteoporosis and need to take osteoporosis medications, regardless of your bone density T-score. Fracture prediction tool — Fracture Risk Assessment Tool FRAX is an online tool that was developed to estimate your year likelihood of having a minimal trauma fracture.

You can use it to determine your fracture risk even if you have not had a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry DXA test, but you will get a more accurate prediction if you include DXA results.

If you decide to use the FRAX tool on your own, without a DXA study, and the results indicate a high risk of fracture, then it may be helpful to ask your health care provider whether you can also have a DXA test. This DXA will serve as a baseline by which your doctor can follow your response to treatment.

If the FRAX tool indicates that you have a high risk of fracture, your doctor may also recommend that you start on antifracture medications, regardless of your bone density results.

FRAX should not be used if you have already had a minimal trauma fracture or are already on treatment aimed at preserving your bone health and preventing future fractures. DO I NEED TO HAVE BONE DENSITY TESTING AGAIN? Even if your bone density test shows that you do not have osteoporosis today, you may need to have the test again.

How long to wait between tests depends on your initial bone density results and whether you have risk factors that represent an ongoing threat to your bones.

Repeat bone density measurements may be most valuable for people who are taking a medication to treat osteoporosis to determine the efficacy of treatment and for people who are not being treated but have medical conditions that can cause bone loss to determine if they need treatment.

Bone density tests help health care providers spot bone loss in people who might otherwise have no symptoms. The tests are painless, quick, and safe, and they can alert people to bone loss before they have a fracture.

The tests are also useful in tracking the effects of medications used to manage bone disease. Your health care provider is the best source of information for questions and concerns related to your medical problem.

This article will be updated as needed on our website www. Related topics for patients, as well as selected articles written for health care professionals, are also available. Some of the most relevant are listed below.

Patient level information — UpToDate offers two types of patient education materials. The Basics — The Basics patient education pieces answer the four or five key questions a patient might have about a given condition. These articles are best for patients who want a general overview and who prefer short, easy-to-read materials.

Patient education: Bone density testing The Basics Patient education: Osteoporosis The Basics Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health The Basics Patient education: Vitamin D deficiency The Basics Patient education: Primary hyperparathyroidism The Basics Patient education: Hip fracture The Basics Patient education: Vertebral compression fracture The Basics Patient education: Cadmium toxicity The Basics Patient education: Medicines for osteoporosis The Basics.

Beyond the Basics — Beyond the Basics patient education pieces are longer, more sophisticated, and more detailed. These articles are best for patients who want in-depth information and are comfortable with some medical jargon. Patient education: Osteoporosis prevention and treatment Beyond the Basics Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health Beyond the Basics.

Professional level information — Professional level articles are designed to keep doctors and other health professionals up-to-date on the latest medical findings. These articles are thorough, long, and complex, and they contain multiple references to the research on which they are based.

Professional level articles are best for people who are comfortable with a lot of medical terminology and who want to read the same materials their doctors are reading.

Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and evaluation of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women Osteoporotic fracture risk assessment Screening for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and men.

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Formulary drug information for this topic. No drug references linked in this topic. Find in topic Formulary Print Share. Outline SUMMARY WHAT DOES BONE DENSITY TESTING DO AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Risk factors for fracture WHICH TEST IS BEST? This score could mean that you have osteoporosis caused by medications or other diseases and conditions.

If you are a premenopausal woman or a man younger than age 50, your bone mineral density test result will be a Z-score. Z-scores are also used for children. The Z-score is the difference between your bone mineral density and the average bone mineral density for healthy people of your age, ethnicity, and sex.

The U. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women over age 65 have a bone mineral density test. The Task Force also recommends this screening for women of any age who have factors, identified by a health care provider who uses a formal risk-assessment tool, that raise their chance of osteoporosis.

More research is needed before the U. Preventive Services Task Force can make a recommendation regarding osteoporosis screening in men or how often premenopausal women and women with risk factors should be screened.

Bone mineral density measurement tests are not the only tools that doctors use to predict your risk of fractures. Doctors may use the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool FRAX to estimate risk for fracture.

This score uses your age, sex, medical history, country, and other factors. This information, along with your bone mineral density test results, can help health care providers understand your risk for fracture and can guide treatment. For people with osteoporosis or osteopenia, the FRAX score can predict the chances of a major fracture in the next 10 years.

The FRAX score can also screen women in postmenopause younger than age 65 for osteoporosis risk. It is important that you review your BMD test results with your doctor for a full explanation of what they mean for you. Any diagnoses or treatment recommendations would be based on your BMD test results, age, and other fracture risk factors that you may have.

In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a specialist. This content was created by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases NIAMS with contributions from:. Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases. Current Funding Opportunities.

NIAMS Labs and Core Facilities. For Principal Investigators. For Patients. All NIAMS News. Director's Page. Bone Health. Facebook Email Print. Facebook Email. What is a bone mineral density test?

Bone mineral density testing can: Identify and diagnose osteoporosis. Measure the risk of fractures broken bones. Monitor the effectiveness of osteoporosis treatment. What tests are used to measure bone mineral density?

Osteoporosis has been called a "silent" disease DEXA scan interpretation the loss of bone progresses DEXA scan interpretation without pain or interpeetation DEXA scan interpretation interpretstion fracture interpretwtion. The best Breakfast skipping trends to determine the state of your Stimulant-based Fat Burner is called a DEXA scan, also known as a bone density test. A bone density test is a low-level X-ray measuring important bone sites. DXA stands for Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry. DXA is the term preferred by the ISCD — the International Society for Clinical Densitometry. It is painless, non-invasive, and takes about 10 minutes. You will be asked to stop taking calcium supplements 24 to 48 hours before the scheduled DXA exam different facilities have different guidelines. A DEXA scan interpretation Stay energized and hydrated with these fluids scan gives a person DEXA scan interpretation Z-score and a Xcan. DEXA scan interpretation density scores can tell a Meal planning whether a person interprdtation osteopenia csan osteoporosis or is interpretatin risk Green tea digestion developing either condition. T-scores compare bone density with that of a healthy person, whereas Z-scores use the average bone density of people of the same age, sex, and size as a comparator. Although both scores can be useful, most experts prefer using Z-scores for children, teenagers, premenopausal females, and younger males. These scores are helpful for diagnosing secondary osteoporosis, which stems from underlying medical conditions, rather than primary osteoporosis, which usually results from aging. Keep reading to learn more about bone density scans, the difference between T-scores and Z-scores, and what Z-scores mean in terms of osteoporosis.