Bone Densitometry (Dexascan)
Great Plains Clinic, P.C. is the only facility in the area to have the Discovery QDR Series Bone Density Machine by Hologic. Discovery, our most advanced QDR Series bone densitometer, combines the proven clinical value of Bone Mineral Density (BMD) measurement and vertebral fracture assessment. Hologic pioneered the integration of BMD measurement with Instant Vertebral Assessment (IVA) allowing point-of-care assessment of the two most definitive factors associated with osteoporotic fracture risk: low bone mineral density and the presence of vertebral fracture.
Discovery's technology innovations raise the standards:
- OnePass Technology
Single sweep scanning enables superior image quality and unparalleled precision test after test, year after year
- Vertebral Fracture Assessment
Recognized as the standard in fracture risk assessment is now even better with our High Definition Instant Vertebral Assessment
- MXApro
Computer aided fracture assessment provides physicians with tools to automatically recognize fractures
Osteoporosis is a term that means "porous bones." It is a skeletal disease affecting women and men. Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones have lost minerals—especially calcium—making them weaker, more brittle, and susceptible to fractures (broken bones). Any bone in the body can be affected by osteoporosis, but the most common places where fractures occur are the back (spine), hips, and wrists.
Each year, osteoporosis causes an estimated 1.5 million fractures. Because the disease makes bones thinner and weaker. Fractures can occur during ordinary movements like bending and lifting, or from falls. These fractures can be painful, disfiguring, and often go unnoticed at first. Fractures may also reduce a person's ability to lead an active life. It is estimated that 1 out of every 2 women over the age of 50 will be affected by osteoporosis in her remaining lifetime.
There are some reasons risk factors that increase your likelihood of developing osteoporosis. The more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to get osteoporosis and broken bones. Some examples are being small and thin, older age, being female, a diet low in calcium, lack of enough vitamin D, smoking and drinking too much alcohol.
Your healthcare provider may recommend a BMD test if you are:
- A postmenopausal woman under age 65 with one or more risk factors for osteoporosis
- A man age 50-70 with one or more risk factors for osteoporosis
- A woman age 65 or older, even without any risk factors
- A man age 70 or older, even without any risk factors
- A woman or man after age 50 who has broken a bone
- A woman going through menopause with certain risk factors
- A postmenopausal woman who has stopped taking estrogen therapy (ET) or hormone therapy (HT)
Some other reasons your healthcare provider may recommend a BMD test:
- Long-term use of certain medications including steroid
- A man receiving certain treatments for prostate cancer
- A woman receiving certain treatments for breast cancer
- Overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) or taking high doses of thyroid hormone medication
- Overactive parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism)
- X-ray of the spine showing a fracture or bone loss
- Back pain with a possible fracture
- Significant loss of height
- Loss of sex hormones at an early age, including early menopause
- Having a disease or condition that can cause bone loss (such as rheumatoid arthritis or anorexia nervosa)
