Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease of bone in which bone mineral density is reduced and bone microarchitecture is disrupted. Osteoporotic bones are susceptible to fracture. It is defined according to the bone mineral density (BMD) as measured by DEXA: a BMD of 2.5 standard deviations below the peak bone mass (20-year-old person standard) is considered osteoporosis. While treatment modalities are becoming available, prevention is still the most important way to reduce fracture. Due to its hormonal component, more women suffer from osteoporosis than men.

Diagnosis

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is considered the diagnostic standard for osteoporosis when bone mineral density (BMD) is over 2.5 standard deviations under the peak bone mass (bone mass of a healthy 30-year-old, or T-score).

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In order to differentiate between the possible causes of osteoporosis, blood tests and X-rays are usually done to rule out cancer with metastasis to the bone, multiple myeloma, Cushing's disease and other causes mentioned above.

Related Topics:
Blood test - X-ray - Cancer - Metastasis - Multiple myeloma - Cushing's disease

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