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Densitometry is a quick and simple test that allows you to assess the condition of your skeleton. Did you know that you can prevent fractures by having an x-ray examination? Find out what is densitometry and whether you need to prepare for it.
Densitometry – bone mineral density (BMD) test is a quick and simple test, thanks to which the doctor will assess the health of your skeleton, and in the case of abnormalities, will implement treatment to prevent future fractures. The study uses minimal doses of X-rays (1/10 of the average dose of radiation used during a chest X-ray), thanks to which the degree of bone loss can be determined. Your densitometry results will help your doctor know if you are at risk of developing osteoporosis or osteopenia.
Densitometry is usually performed on the bones most likely to fracture in the course of osteoporosis. These are:
- lumbar spine,
- femoral neck,
- wrist bones,
- forearm bones.
Based on the test, you can assess how many grams of calcium and other minerals are in a given bone segment. The higher the mineral content, the denser your bones are. And the denser they are, the stronger they are, and at the same time less prone to fractures.
As you age, your risk of developing osteoporosis increases as your bones gradually lose essential minerals. Osteoporosis can cause fractures, even from minor injuries. Osteopenia is a condition of slightly decreased bone density and predates the onset of osteoporosis for several years.
The doctor is not able to diagnose these two conditions on the basis of an ordinary X-ray examination. Currently, the only test that can diagnose or rule out osteoporosis and osteopenia is densitometry.
Bone density testing is recommended:
- women over 65 (as a screening test),
- 60 years of age who are at increased risk of osteoporosis (see below: Am I at risk of developing osteoporosis?)
- in people with low body weight,
- women after several births at short intervals,
- people with diseases related to low bone mass or loss of bone mass (e.g. after menopause, in kidney diseases, in rheumatic diseases, due to a deficiency of sex hormones),
- women with late first menstruation,
- people with low levels of calcium and vitamin D in the diet,
- people with fractures of the wrist, spine or hip bones that were not related to the injury,
- women taking hormone replacement therapy or in the menopausal period,
- people practicing little physical activity,
- smokers and alcohol abusers,
- patients treated for osteoporosis (as monitoring of treatment effectiveness).
So far, it has not been specified at what intervals the densitometry should be repeated, and at what age it is possible to deviate from the routine performance of this examination. However, based on current knowledge, in order to reliably assess the pace of changes in bones, it seems necessary to maintain a minimum two-year interval between subsequent examinations. Your doctor, taking into account your general health and possible risk factors for osteoporosis, will recommend that you perform this test at appropriate intervals.
Race is an important risk factor for developing osteoporosis. White people and the inhabitants of South Asia are at high risk. Other risk factors include:
- low body weight,
- a history of fractures
- a family history of osteoporosis
- the use of drugs that lower the bone density,
- low content of calcium and / or vitamin D in the daily diet,
- low estrogen levels,
- little physical activity.
Densitometry will detect reduced bone density but not the cause of the condition. Please consult your doctor to identify them. If you want to improve the density of your bones, start supplementing with vitamin D. Buy, for example, Vitamin D3 in black cumin oil 2000 UI, which is very well absorbed and is available at a promotional price on Medonet Market.
A densitometric test must be ordered by a doctor. Its cost is 100% reimbursed by the National Health Fund. Of course, densitometry can also be performed in private medical institutions. It is then payable.
Before densitometry, you should inform your doctor about your current diseases (e.g. diabetes, thyroid and parathyroid diseases) and the preparations you are taking. You should not take any calcium supplements or multivitamins on the day of the test. They may distort the result of the densitometry.
On the day of the examination:
- you can eat your meal normally,
- avoid wearing clothes with buttons (especially metal ones), zippers, clasps or buckles. Better if you choose comfortable clothes that will not restrict the waist area.
In the period preceding densitometry, it is contraindicated to perform other imaging examinations using a barite mush (it is often used as a contrast, e.g. in X-ray of the esophagus or abdominal cavity), intravenous radioisotopes or contrast used in computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI). Depending on the type of apparatus on which the densitometry will be performed, this prohibition applies to the 7 or 30 days preceding the examination. Ask the doctor who orders the densitometry for details.
Densitometry is also not performed in pregnant women.
Densitometry is a simple, quick, but most importantly painless examination (it takes about 15 minutes). The person performing the densitometry will ask you to assume a comfortable, lying position on a specially prepared table. Choose a relatively comfortable position as you will need to remain still for several minutes. During this time, your hip and / or lumbar spine will be x-rayed.
Unlike regular x-rays, densitometry does not require undressing, but only if the garment does not have any metal elements (buttons, zippers, etc.). It is also recommended to remove the jewelery during the examination.
It is most often used in densitometry Double Beam X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). It uses small doses of X-rays and then irradiates with X-rays a specific area of the skeleton. The whole skeleton is irradiated much less often – such an action is most often undertaken in children. Then a special detector measures the absorbed beam and, after transformations, shows the result in the form of the so-called bone surface density in the studied area. Yet another method of bone densitometry is quantitative computed tomography and quantitative ultrasonic method.
Duration of densitometry is a maximum of 30 minutes.
And after the examination …?
You can return to your daily activities immediately after the densitometry.
Results of the densitometric test
The result of the examination with a radiological description should be collected at the doctor’s. It takes into account the factors that affect the disease, that is:
- family predisposition,
- medications taken,
- comorbidities,
- past fractures.
Your bone density score is presented on a scale that reflects the relative risk of osteoporosis and fractures. This scale is called ‘T – score’. It also allows you to monitor the effectiveness of certain treatments (e.g. hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women). The test result includes: percentage of the norm; image of the studied area; sex; age; absolute values of surface density; the number of standard deviations of the result from the norm.
Interpretation of the T-score
- +/- 1 – correct values
- from 1 to — 2,5 — low bone mass (osteopenia)
- less than – 2,5 – osteoporosis
- below – 0 – factors other than age are the cause of osteoporosis.
The increased value of the T indicator may be caused by the following states:
- spine fractures,
- atherosclerotic changes in the abdominal aorta,
- advanced degenerative and productive changes,
- calcification of the ligamentous apparatus of the spine.
I am diagnosed with osteoporosis – what next?
Osteoporosis should only be treated under the supervision of a doctor. Self-administration of diets or over-the-counter medications is not enough. The most important element in the fight against osteoporosis is its early diagnosis and intervention in the case of high risk of fractures. The sooner the treatment is implemented, the greater its effectiveness. Treatment of osteoporosis may take up to several years and requires the cooperation of the patient with the doctor. Properly matched treatment not only inhibits the development of the disease, but also allows for the reconstruction of lost bone tissue. The bone strengthens, any previous pains disappear and the risk of fractures decreases.