Unit 4-Bone mineral densitometry Flashcards
What is osteoperosis?
-Generalized skeletal disease in which there is low bone mass, deterioration of bone tissue and an increase in bone fragility
What are the 2 types of bone? How much does it make up each?
- Cortical bone-80%
- Trabecular bone-20%
What minerals are bones primarily made of?
Calcium and phosphate
What area of bone is most affected with osteoperosis?
Trabecular bone
What are the functions of trabecular bone?
- Adds strength without excessive weight
- Red bone marrow production
- Supports compressive loading and flexibility
T/F?
With osteoperosis, the bone is no longer remodeling.
False, there is constant remodeling of bone
What is the function of osteoclasts?
Break down and reabsorb bone
What is the function of osteoblasts?
To build bone and form it
What is the first radiographic sign of healing of a fracture?
Bone reabsorption
What determines bone mass increase or decrease?
The rate of resorption compared to the rate of formation
T/F
When the osteoblast activity is higher than the osteoclast activity, there is a net loss of bone mass.
False; when osteoclast activity is higher than osteoblast activity, there is a net loss of bone mass
At what age do we reach peak bone mass?
At around age 30
At what age do women and men begin to start decreasing in bone mass?
W=50 years
M=60-65
Why do women start loosing bone mass earlier?
More pronounced at menapause because of the loss of bone preserving estrogen
Bone mass in later life is a function of what two main factors?
- The peak bone mass attained in early adult life
- The rate of age related bone loss
What does BMD exams measure?
The bone mineral content and the bone mineral density based off of the amount of attenuation occuring
What are the purposes of the values obtained from BMD imaging?
- To asses bone strength
- Assist with diagnosis of diseases assosiated with low bone density
- Monitory the effectiveness of treatment
- Predict risk of future fractures
What is the stage right before osteoperosis?
Osteopenia
Name 3 risk factors assosiated with osteoporosis?
- Increased age
- Caucasian
- Female
How does osteoperosis appear radiographically?
- Increased radiolucency in bone
- Verticalization of trabeulae (loss of horizontal trabeculae)
- Increased radiodenisty of the cortical rim
What is a common way to describe the appearance of osteoperosis?
Picture frame appearence
Where are the changes of osteoperosis most prominent in?
- The axial skeleton
- In the long ends of bones in appendicular skeleton (proximal femur, distal radius, calcaneus
T/F?
Most osteoporotic fractures are caused by falls.
True
What fracture assosiated with osteoperosis is most common?
Vertebral fractures (often compression)
What are the 3 treatment options for osteoperosis?
- Bisphosphonates
- Calcitonins
- Parathyroid hormon, Vit D, and Ca2+
What is the function of bisphosphonates?
They bind to the surfaces of the bones and slows down osteoclast action
What is the function of calcitonins?
Decrease osteoclast acitvity
What is the most versatile and commonly used technique of preforming bone densitometry exams?
Using dual energy x ray absorptiometry (DEXA/DXA)
What are 3 benefits of DXA over other methods?
- Low radiation dose
- Easy to use
- Good precision
What is the main use for DXA?
Diagnosis of osteoperosis
What are the 2 systems/manufactuerers for achiving dual energy exams for DXA?
- Hologic system
- Ge+Norland systems
How does the hologic system work?
It synchronously witches betwen 100 kVp and 140 kVp, resulting in effective photon energies of 40 and 80 kVp
How does the GE and Norland systems work?
-2 peaks are produced by x ray beam passing through cerium or samarium filters
-Cerium filter is used with a 100kV to give effecitve photon energies of 40 and 70KeV
T/F
DXA takes into account the volume of the tissue.
False
What assumption is made when using the mathematical equation to calculate bone density values?
Assumes that the body is divided into 2 compartments; soft tissue and bone
T/F?
It is necessary to eliminate soft tissue to measure the x ray attenuation of bone alone.
True