Description

Bone Density Measurement (Bone Scan)

What is a bone density measurement (bone scan test)?

Bone mineral density (BMD) = BMD (Bone Mineral Density)

Minerals such as calcium and phosphorus constitute a significant part of the
bone structure. The purpose of bone density (density) measurement methods is to
determine the quantitative ratio of this mineral part of the bone. The
greater the loss of minerals in the bone, the lower the density is measured,
and in this case, it is interpreted that bone mineral density has decreased,
that is, bone resorption (osteoporosis) has occurred. Bone mineral density
measurement is an examination that should be performed in women, men and
children in some cases. In this article, bone density measurements will be
mentioned in women, especially in the case of bone resorption due to menopause.

Bone mineral density measurement is often named as bone scan, bone scan test,
bone scan test, bone resorption test, bone scan film, bone resorption
film. Briefly written as BMD or BMD.

Who and when is bone density measurement done?

• After menopause
• Women over the age of 65
• Those who use drugs that cause bone loss such as steroid drugs •
Patients with a history of hip fracture in themselves or in their mother
• Patients with type 1 diabetes, liver and kidney disease
• Patients with severe hyperthyroidism • Patients
with a fracture due to a slight trauma
• Patients with suspected bone resorption (osteoporosis) or spinal fracture on X-ray.

How often is a bone screening test done?

Bone density measurement is performed every 2 years on average after menopause,
but it can be done more frequently in the presence of risk factors or less frequently,
such as every 3-5 years, in people with good bone density without risk factors.

How is bone mineral density measurement (bone
screening test) done?

DEXA (can also be abbreviated as DXA) method, which is the most commonly used
method today to determine bone mineral density, is a simple, short-term and
painless method. The patient lies on the device as seen in the picture and
the procedure is performed in this position. The patient is exposed to a
very small amount of radiation beam, the amount of radiation received is almost
one tenth of the dose in a lung x-ray. The waist part of the spine (L1-L4)
and the hip (femur) are usually shot. The shooting takes a maximum of 10
minutes and the result report is usually given to the patient within half an hour
after the shooting.

It does not matter whether the patient is hungry or full on the day of
measurement. No prior medication is required. In order not to enter
the shooting area, clothes without metal buttons, belts and zippers should not
be preferred. As long as there is no metal in the shooting area, you can
shoot with clothes, but sometimes you may be asked to remove some clothes.

During the shooting, the patient’s legs are pulled towards the abdomen and
placed on the support so that the lumbar region of the spine is flattened (for
the flattening of the lordosis).