Makindo Medical Notes.com

Related Subjects: |Osteoporosis

Falsely high readings can be due to aortic calcification, vertebral fractures, degenerative disc disease and OA, all of which can artefactually raise BMD results. Radiographic correlation is then advisable.

Introduction

• Used to screen for and monitor osteoporosis

Technique

• Assess bone mineral density (BMD) by looking at penetration of X rays.
• Two X-ray beams, with different energy levels, are aimed at the patient's bones.
• Soft tissue absorption is subtracted out, the BMD can be determined from the absorption of each beam by bone.
• Measurements
  • Lumbar spine
  • Hip
  • Forearm are obtained

Result

• Measurements are often presented as T-scores,
• Osteoporosis is defined in postmenopausal women and men of more than 50 years old by a T-score of -2.5 or below
• Osteopenia is diagnosed when the T-score lies between -1.0 and -2.5
• Normal above -1.0 and below +2.5 are considered normal (yellow/green),