Re: FYI -- Dexascan results -- more background info

March 30, 2003

At 2:40 PM -0800 3/30/03, wrote:

>

>I just had my first Dexascan...the results were -1.4

>

>They said for a woman my age..40...I was in the middle of the " normal " range.

>

>Any input ? Good, bad? ...unfortunatley I have no previous score to go on....

Results of bone density tests can be reported in several ways:

* Your bone mineral density (BMD) is usually measured in units

of grams per square centimeter (g/cm2).

* Your BMD value will be compared to other people of your age

and sex. This is your " age-matched " value. It is given in standard

deviations (SD) from the average value for your age group (Z-score).

A negative (-) value indicates that you have thinner bones (lower

bone density) than the average of people in your age group. The more

negative the number is, the less bone density you have compared with

others in your age group. A positive (+) value indicates that you

have higher bone density than the average of people in your age group.

* Your BMD value will also be compared with the average value

for a young (30-year-old) healthy person of your sex. This is the

" young normal " value or T-score. A negative (-) value indicates that

you have thinner bones (lower bone density) than an average

30-year-old. The more negative the number is, the less bone density

you have compared with an average 30-year-old. A positive (+) value

indicates that you have higher bone density than an average

30-year-old.

Bone Mineral T-score Results mean:

Density (BMD)

Normal: at least 0 SD no bone thinning

Borderline low: -0.5 to -1.0 SD mild bone thinning

Low: -1.0 to -2.5 SD significant bone thinning (osteopenia)

Very low: less than -2.5 SD osteoporosis

BMD test results that are lower than normal can be interpreted in several ways.

* Doctors usually use the lowest T-score to diagnose

osteoporosis. For example, if a T-score of -3 was obtained at the

spine and a T-score of -2 was obtained at the hip, the spine

measurement would result in a diagnosis of osteoporosis.

* The more negative your T-score, the greater your risk of

breaking a bone during a fall or from a minor injury.

* Every change of 1 SD means a two-fold change in the risk of

fracture at that site. For example, a T-score of -1 indicates a risk

of fracture that is 2 times greater than a T-score of 0.

* Low BMD values may be caused by other disorders, such as

hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, multiple myeloma, Cushing's

syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, rickets, premature menopause, or a

vitamin D deficiency.

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March 30, 2003