Osteoporosis Diagnosis – Osteoporosis Tests

Posted on December 2nd, 2010

For best results, Osteoporosis Diagnosis has to done as early as possible, preferably before a fracture takes place. If done early enough, a probable fracture can be totally avoided. Unfortunately, most people learn about their condition only after they have a fracture.

A thorough examination from different angles needs to be done for a proper Osteoporosis Diagnosis. The diagnosis begins with a physical exam and an x-ray to detect any form of problem in the bones. The most important step is the bone mineral density test, which would determine the actual density of the bone in the individual.

The physician would also normally ascertain the family history of the patient, their lifestyle and the amount of activity that they have every day in a typical week, their diet, the amount of calcium and Vitamin D intake, and the history of fractures, if any, experienced by the individual. If the patient is a woman, then the menstrual history is also taken into account.

The physician would also determine whether the patient is taking medication for any other ailment, which in turn might be contributing to the bone loss in the body. The patient is also checked for any vertebral fractures, which might alter the height of the individual.

While an x-ray can easily show a fracture, it is not the best method to diagnose bone loss. So if the patient is losing bone density, the x-ray may not show it properly. This kind of condition can only be effectively determined by a bone mineral density test. The test can quickly show whether a patient is suffering from osteoporosis. The BMD test exposes the patient to much less radiation than a regular x-ray. The most popular BMD test is the DXA test (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). The test is totally painless and it tests the density of the bone at the hip and along the spine.

Osteoporosis Diagnosis – The BMD test outputs a value known as a T-score, which compares the patient’s bone density with what is considered as normal bone density for a healthy individual. When the number has a negative sign, it indicates low bone mass and the greater the magnitude of the number in the negative direction, the more the susceptibility of the patient to a possible fracture.

Tags: Diagnosis Differential, Osteoporosis Diagnosis, Osteoporosis Tests
Filed under Osteoporosis Treatment |

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