Bone Density Scans: hate to say we told you so

Bonnie: Once, there was trans fat. Then there was hormone replacement therapy. Recently, it was PSA screening. This is just a smattering of the titanic reversals of fortune for once public health darlings. Now, we have the latest public health reversal: Bone Density Scans.

New research could mean millions of older women can skip frequent screening tests for osteoporosis: If an initial bone scan shows no big problems, many can safely wait 15 years to have another one, says a new study from New England Journal of Medicine. Government advisers and leading doctor groups urge osteoporosis screening, but no one has known how often that should happen. The findings offer the best information to date on that question, experts said. "This is landmark, in the sense that it could allow us to move on to more precise guidelines," said Dr.Heidi Nelson, a researcher at the Oregon Health & Science University who is an expert on the topic. At issues are bone mineral density tests, which usually are done through X-rays and cost around $250. Medicare pays for testing every two years. The new study feeds concerns that the tests are done too often, at least for some women. "It's an expenditure of time, it's exposure to radiation, and it's cost. And there's no reason to expose yourself to any risks if there's going to be no benefit," explained Dr. Virginia Moyer, who heads the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government panel that issues testing guidelines.

Most importantly, it is believed that such frequent scans have led to gross over-treatment with osteoporosis medication.