Bone Health
The Laura Dreier Breast Center at Banner Good Samaritan, offers bone density tests to determine if have osteoporosis and your risk for a fracture.
What is "bone mineral density"?
Bone mineral density measures the absolute amount of bone and helps determine bone strength and its ability to bear weight. It is measured with a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry test (referred to as a DEXA scan). By measuring density, we can predict the risk of fracturing a bone in the same way we can measure blood pressure to help predict the risk of stroke.
This test can not predict the certainty of developing a fracture. It can only predict risk. It is also important to note that a bone density scan, or test, should not be confused with a bone scan, which is a nuclear medicine test.
Who should get a bone density test?
Bone densitometry scans should be considered for patients under the age of 65 if they have the following risk factors:
- History of fracture as an adult
- History of fragility fracture in a close relative
- Low body weight (under 127 pounds)
- Use of corticosteroid therapy for more than three months
- Estrogen deficiency at an early age (45 years or younger).
Medicare will cover bone density testing every two years for patients who are 65 years or older with one of the following conditions:
- Estrogen deficient and at risk for osteoporosis
- Abnormalities in the vertebrae
- Long-term use of glucocorticoid steroid therapy
- Diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism
- Use of an approved osteoporosis drug therapy.
If you have questions, please e-mail us..
