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Breast and Bone – Radiologist – Dr Herman Fourie

Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Scans

Osteoporosis is a weakening of the bones and can result in painful fractures or collapsing back vertebrae. Osteoporosis risk factors include just being female but also aging, low body weight, low oestrogen levels as seen in menopause, certain medications and even smoking.
Illustration of Osteoporosis

Testing your bone density

Current bone health

Adequate calcium and vitamin D

Bone-Density illustration

About BMD Scans

Bone mineral density scans (BMD) must be performed every three years as screening for adults over 60.

Bone mineral density scans (BMD) could be performed yearly or for younger adults based on medical necessity.

Women ages 55 or older who have a higher chance of getting a fracture for example early onset of menopause.

BMD scans are done with our state of the art DXA scanner.

DXA Scan Results

For the final results of your scan, you will get a T-score. It compares your bone density to that of a healthy 30-year-old. This age represents the time when human bones are at their strongest. Weaker bones will be represented by a lower score:

  • T-score of -1.0 or above = normal bone density
  • T-score between -1.0 and -2.5 = low bone density, or osteopenia
  • T-score of -2.5 or lower = osteoporosis

The second type of score is a Z-score. It compares your bone density to a typical density for a person of your same age and body size.

Women Getting A Bone Density Scan

Ultrasound Scans

3D Mammograms

Bone Density Scans

Frequently Asked Questions

Osteoporosis weakens bones and can cause painful fractures or collapsing back vertebrae. Risk factors for osteoporosis include being female, aging, low body weight, low oestrogen levels resulting from menopause, certain medications, and even smoking.

Testing your bone density, which indicates how healthy your bones are, is the only way to determine whether you are suffering from osteoporosis. The most commonly used scan for this purpose is the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA) scan. This scan not only determines your current bone health, but also assesses your risk of developing fractures due to underlying osteoporosis. The DEXA scan focuses on two critical areas: the hips and the lower spine. In case these areas cannot be scanned, we will perform a scan of the forearm, which yields similar results. These results provide us with a good indication of whether you are likely to experience fractures in these or other bones in your body.

The South African guidelines recommend that all adults over the age of 60 undergo a screening Bone Mineral Density test every three years. Depending on the scan results, Osteoporosis may be diagnosed. If you are under 60 years of age, your doctor will conduct a focused history and physical examination to determine whether a DEXA scan is necessary. If you have any other medical condition that necessitates a DEXA scan, your doctor will refer you for the test.

The DEXA scanner is a device that produces two X-ray beams, one of which is higher energy, and the other lower energy. The device measures the number of X-rays that pass through the bone from each beam, with the number varying depending on how dense or strong the bone is.

A DEXA scan typically takes 15 minutes, during which you will not feel anything, and the radiation exposure is extremely low and safe. Unlike some other types of scans such as MRIs or CT scans, there is no tunnel or ring involved. Instead, you will lie on an open table, and a flat panel will pass over parts of your body.

Prevention includes adequate calcium and vitamin D intake combined with good exercise. Treatment includes several types of osteoporosis medications.

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