Osteopenia: Meaning in a Radiology Report

Also written as: low bone mass, low bone density, demineralization, decreased bone mineralization

Osteopenia means bones are less dense than expected. On a DEXA scan it means a T-score between -1 and -2.5, not low enough to be osteoporosis.

What it means

Bones stay strong by storing calcium and other minerals. Age, menopause, low activity, long-term steroid medicines and some illnesses can slowly thin them. On an X-ray or CT, osteopenia means bones look grayer and thinner than expected, which is only a rough guide. A DEXA scan measures density properly and compares it with a healthy young adult, giving a T-score. In younger adults a Z-score, comparing you with your own age group, is used instead.

When it matters

Osteopenia is very common after midlife and is not a disease by itself, but it means a higher chance of osteoporosis and fractures later. When an X-ray suggests it, a DEXA scan is often the next step. Doctors weigh the T-score with your age, past fractures and other risks. Your doctor may suggest exercise, calcium and vitamin D, a repeat scan in a few years, or medicine if your risk is higher.

Questions to ask your doctor

What is my lowest T-score, and at which site?
What is my estimated risk of a fracture over the next 10 years?
When should my bone density be measured again?

General information, not medical advice. What a finding means for you depends on your symptoms, your history and the images themselves, so talk your results through with a doctor.