Osteoporosis screening is recommended for all women who are over the age of 65, as well as for those who have risk factors at an earlier age. The two main ways of screening for this disease that causes the bones to thin and break easily are via DEXA scan (short for dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) and via ultrasound imaging of the heel. A DEXA scan looks at the density of bones in the hips and spine to determine a patient’s risk for fractures. This painless imaging test can often be performed right in your doctor’s office. Other methods of detecting bone density include blood tests and quantitative computerized tomography - a type of CT scan that measures bone density in the spine. Beyond weakened bones that are indicative of osteoporosis, regular screening can detect osteopenia, which is an early stage of the disease in which the patient is determined to have lower-than-normal bone density.
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