| What is Bone Mineral Density Test? |
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A bone mineral density (BMD) test is the best way to
determine your bone health. BMD tests can identify osteoporosis, determine
your risk for fractures (broken bones), and measure your response to
osteoporosis treatment. The most widely recognized bone mineral density test
is called a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry or DXA test. It is painless: a
bit like having an x ray, but with much less exposure to radiation. It can
measure bone density at your hip and spine. During a BMD test, an extremely low energy source is passed over part or all of the body. The information is evaluated by a computer program that allows the doctor to see how much bone mass you have. Since bone mass serves as an approximate measure of bone strength, this information also helps the doctor accurately detect low bone mass, make a definitive diagnosis of osteoporosis, and determine your risk of future fractures. BMD tests provide doctors with a measurement called a T-score, a number value that results from comparing your bone density to optimal bone density. When a T-score appears as a negative number such as -1, -2 or -2.5, it indicates low bone mass. The more negative the number, the greater the risk of fracture. Although no bone density test is 100 percent accurate, this type of test is the single most important predictor of whether a person will fracture in the future.
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| Source: osteo.org |
