Detailed definition
The T-score is the number of standard deviations a patient's BMD measurement deviates from the mean BMD of healthy young adults of the same sex (typically aged 20–29). It is the diagnostic measure used in WHO criteria for osteoporosis. The T-score is reported separately for spine, total hip, and femoral neck; the lowest of these is generally used for diagnosis. A T-score of -2.5 corresponds roughly to a 2.5-fold increase in fracture risk relative to a young-adult woman.
Why it matters in menopause
For postmenopausal women, the T-score is the dominant measure on a DEXA report. A spine T-score of -2.0 with a hip T-score of -1.5 is osteopenia at both sites and triggers attention to lifestyle, calcium/vitamin D, and consideration of HRT or other bone-active therapy depending on FRAX-predicted fracture risk.
Related terms
Sources
External references: Wikipedia.