Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Masa ósea
Bone mass
A measure of the amount of minerals (mostly calcium and phosphorous) contained in a certain volume of bone. Bone mass measurements are used to diagnose osteoporosis (a condition marked by decreased bone mass), to see how well osteoporosis treatments are working, and to predict how likely the bones are to break. Low bone mass can occur in patients treated for cancer. Also called BMD, bone density, and bone mineral density.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.