Takes 30 to 60 minutes.

Age 50 protocol

• Typically, an exam starts at age 50 unless patients fall into a high-risk category which can include:
  • family history of osteoporosis or hip fractures
  • malabsorption issues
  • hyperthyroidism
  • hyperparathyroidism
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • type 1 diabetes mellitus
  • liver disease
  • kidney disease
  • Crohn’s disease
  • smoking
  • long-term use of certain steroid medications such as glucocortisteroids such as predisone and cortisone
  • drop in hormone levels related to cancer treatments
• Recommended every 2 years.
• BMD patients under the age of 50 will need to be protocoled and meet the criterion. Osteoporosis Screening (alberta.ca)

AHC covered

• Covered under Alberta Health Care Plan.

Importance of Setting Baseline

• Since measurements can vary between machines, repeat tests should be taken at the same clinic, or a new baseline may be needed. Measurements must be very precise. Upon receiving a requisition, Mayfair will book repeat patients at the same clinic as their previous exam.

Cystic Fibrosis

• The higher propensity for patients with CF to have weak bones and possibly osteopenia or osteoporosis, regardless of age or gender, should make a BMD exam a consideration.

Dexa

• DEXA  Body composition is scan that our BMD units can do.  The composition scan gives information on lean muscle mass and fat content.  AHC does not have a fee schedule for this exam, therefore we can only do this as a complimentary exam if ordered with a BMD.  Mayfair radiologists do not comment on the scans in the BMD report, but the units do send images that can be interpreted by the ordering physician.

BMD Under Age 50 Criteria

• BMD can be referred if the following criteria are met.
  • Referred by a specialist approved by AHS (see list below)
  • Patient is on Hormone Modulation treatment for Breast or Prostate CA and on one of the approved HMT medications also listed below.   Not to be confused with Hormone REPLACEMENT –
  • Patient is an organ transplant patient – pre or post transplant
• Approved referrers for patients under 50 (exam must be ordered by the specialist listed below).
  • Endocrinology/Metabolism
  • Gastroenterology
  • General Surgery
  • Nephrology
  • Orthopedic
  • Pediatric (including sub-specialties)
  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Rheumatology
  • Internal Medicine (includes Pulmonology, Endocrinology, Cardiology, Hepatology, Hematology/Oncology, Neurology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, Allergy/Immunology, Infectious Disease, and Geriatrics)
• Hormone Modulation Therapy Medications for BMDBREAST CA
  Tamoxifen (Nolvadex)
  Letrozole (Femara)
  Anostrozole (Arimidex)
  Exemestane (Aromasin)
  Goserelin (Zoladex)
  Leuprolide (Lupron)
  Buserelin (Suprefact)
  Fulvestrant (Faslodex)PROSTATE CA
  Leuprolide (Lupron)
  Goserelin (Zoladex)
  Buserelin (Suprefact)
  Triptorelin (Trelstar)
  Flutamide (Euflex)
  Bicalutamide (Casodex)
  Abiraterone (Zytiga)
  Enzalutamide (Xtrandi)