Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Disease

Bone Disease Clinic

Our clinic offers evaluation and treatment of patients with metabolic bone diseases. We have special interest in the treatment of men and women with osteoporosis, including postmenopausal osteoporosis, steroid induced osteoporosis, organ transplant associated bone disease and osteoporosis in cancer patients. We also have an active research program investigating new therapies for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.

Bone Density Testing Unit

Bone density testing is available utilizing state of the art equipment and interpretation by physicians certified by the International Society for Clinical Densitometry.

Should you have a central bone density test? Yes, if:

  • You are over age 65
  • You are under age 65 and have one or more risk factors for fracture
  • You have had a fracture
  • There is a history of fracture in a first degree relative
  • You have had a peripheral bone density test showing a T score of -1 or less
  • You have been on hormone replacement therapy for a prolonged period of time
  • If you are considering osteoporosis therapy and a bone density test will help you in your decision

**All scans are interpreted by physicians who are certified by the International Society for Clinical Densitometry

Are You at Risk?

Several factors can increase your chances of developing osteoporosis.

  • Gender – women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men due to thinner, lighter bones and the decrease in estrogen production that occurs during menopause.
  • Age – the longer you live, the greater the likelihood of developing osteoporosis. Although all of us lose bone tissue as we age, the amount and rate of loss varies widely with each individual.
  • Family History – susceptibility to osteoporosis is due in part to heredity. If you have had a fracture as an adult or a parent has had a fracture, you are more likely to have low bone mass than your peers.
  • Ethnicity – Caucasian and Asian women are at highest risk; African and Hispanic women are at lower but significant risk.
  • Body Size – low body weight (under 127 lbs) and a small-boned frame place you at increased risk.
  • Lifestyle – a diet low in calcium, inadequate vitamin D, little or no exercise, current cigarette smoking or excessive use of alcohol are all risk factors for this debilitating disease.

Diagnosing Osteoporosis

To determine if you have osteoporosis or may be at risk for the disease, your doctor will ask you questions about your lifestyle, medical history and whether anyone in your family has suffered from osteoporosis or if they have fractured any bones.

Specialized tests, called bone density tests, can measure the bone density in various sites of the body. A bone density test can detect osteoporosis before a fracture occurs, predict your chances of fracturing in the future and determine your rate of bone loss. Many tests are able to monitor a person’s response to treatment if they are conducted at intervals of a year or more.

See our Patient Education section on Osteoporosis for more information.