Osteoporosis
Diagnosis
Bone Density Tests
The test used to diagnose osteoporosis is called a bone density test. This test is a measure of how strong -- or dense -- your bones are and can help your doctor predict your risk for having a fracture. Bone density tests are painless, safe, and require no preparation on your part.
Bone density tests compare your bone density to the bones of an average healthy young adult. The test result, known as a T-score, tells you how strong your bones are, whether you have osteoporosis or osteopenia -- low bone mass -- and your risk for having a fracture.
Some bone density tests measure the strength of the hip, spine, and/or wrist, which are the bones that break most often in people with osteoporosis. Other tests measure bone in the heel or hand. Although no bone density test is 100 percent accurate, it is the single most important diagnostic test to predict whether a person will have a fracture in the future.
The most widely recognized bone density test is a DXA scan of the hip and spine. This test shows if you have normal bone density, low bone mass, or osteoporosis. It is also used to monitor bone density changes over time in response to treatment.
Who Should Be Tested?
The United States Preventive Service Task Force recommends that women aged 65 and older be screened (tested) for osteoporosis, as well as women aged 60 and older who are at increased risk for an osteoporosis-related fracture. However, the decision of whether or not to have a bone density test is best made between a patient and his or her physician.
Medicare will usually cover the cost of a bone density test in women age 65 and older. Under certain conditions, such as significant risk factors for osteoporosis, Medicare will cover women under age 65, men, and a followup bone density test every 2 years for certain individuals.
