Bone Density Screening

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A Woman's View is now offering bone density scanning with the Hologic DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) system.

Bone densitometry is a non-invasive technology that is used to measure bone mass. Bone mass, simply put, is the weight of

the skeleton, overall or in specific regions. Bone mineral density, or BMD, reveals a risk factor for fractures.

DEXA, the gold standard in densitometry, creates a dual-energy spectrum from an x-ray source. One method involves

alternating pulses of low and high kV that are applied to the x-ray tube. The low- and high-energy spectra are then measured

separately. The other method applies a constant potential to the x-ray source while using a K-edge filter to separate the

energy spectrum into two narrow energy bands. An energy-discriminating detector with a dual-channel analyzer counts the

resultant photons. The use of two energies allows bone mineral to be assessed independently of soft-tissue inhomogeneities.

Bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) are calculated in g/cm and g/cm2, respectively.

Once you have been scanned, which is completely non-invasive and painless, either Dr. Vickie Lovin or Dr. Denise Bilhorn will

interpret your results. They have been trained and certified by the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD).

This is a very easy, quick, non-invasive test to see if you are suffering osteopenia, or bone loss. Severe bone loss leads to

Osteoporosis, one of the most common diseases. There are some links to web sites about this condition below. The bad

news is that often there are no visible symptoms of Osteoporosis until you have a broken bone. The good news is that the

earlier this disease is caught, the better the chance of slowing bone loss or even reversing it.

If you are over the age of 65 you should have a bone density scan every two years. It should be noted that if you have any of

the risk factors, you need to have a DEXA scan done rather than the heel screening. Heel screening is not as accurate and

can miss some cases.

Risk Factors

Since we started doing DEXA scans

in May of 2003, approximately 75%

of our patients we scan have at

least mild bone loss. Since this

condition affects millions of people,

this is not surprising.

Here are some of the risk factors for

bone loss:

• Long-term steroid use

• Hyperthyroidism

Anorexia or extreme thinness

• Heavy tobacco or alcohol use

Lack of exercise

• A family history of osteoporosis