How is Osteoporosis Diagnosed?
A special type of Xray can assess the
density of your bones. Known as Dual
energy Xray Absorptiometry (DXA, or
DEXA) this type of Xray shows the
doctors if you have abnormal bone
density. The assessment will give you
what is known as your T score.
According to the World Heath
Organisation (WHO):
If your T score is 1.0 or greater, this
is 'normal' bone density.
T score between –1.0
and –2.5 is 'low
bone mass' or 'osteopenia'.
T score of –2.5 or
lower is diagnosed as
osteoporosis.
A 'low trauma' or osteoporotic
fracture, defined as one that occurs as
a result of a fall from a standing
height, is also diagnostic of
osteoporosis regardless of the
T-score.
In order to differentiate between
"primary" (post-menopausal, regardless
of age) and "secondary" osteoporosis,
blood tests and X-rays are usually done
to rule out cancer with bone
secondaries, multiple myeloma,
Cushing's disease and some other
conditions.