DEXA Scan (Dual Energy Absorptiometry - Bone Densitometry)

Diagnostic Imaging of Milford knows the importance of screening for osteoporosis in both men and women. Osteoporosis is a gradual loss of calcium, causing your bones to become thinner, more fragile and more likely to break. Our state-of-the-art Hologic DEXA unit records measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) in your body, primarily of the lower spine and hips. The DEXA machine sends a thin, invisible beam of low-dose x-rays with two energy peaks through the bones. One peak is absorbed mainly by soft tissue and the other by bone. When the soft tissue amount is subtracted from the total, the remainder is your bone mineral density reading. A DEXA scan takes only a few minutes and is a painless examination. The amount of radiation used is extremely small, and no radiation remains in your body after the proedure. The radiologist will compare your density measurements with those of a person of the same age, size and gender that have "peak" bone mineral density. These results are in the form of a T-score and a Z-score.
 

T-score — This number is the amount of bone you have compared with a young adult of the same gender with peak bone mass.

Z-score — This number reflects the amount of bone you have compared with other people in your age group and of the same size and gender.

The results of these scores will aid your physician in the type of treatment, if any, to be prescribed if you are diagnosed with osteoporosis.

DEXA Scans are recommended if you:

	Are post-menopausal and not taking estrogen
	Have a history of hip fracture or smoking
	Have a history of fractures or a family history of osteoporosis
	Use medications which can cause bone loss
	Have Type 1 diabetes, liver disease, or kidney disease
	Have a thyroid or parathyroid condition
	Have had x-ray evidence of a vertebral fracture or other signs of osteoporosis

PREPARATION:

	You will be asked to fill out a medical form, including a list of medications, so please arrive at the office a few minutes early.
	Do not take calcium supplements 24 hours before your DEXA scan.
	Wear loose, comfortable clothing, preferably without zippers, clasps or metal buttons. If this is not feasible, you will be asked to change into an examination gown.
	Inform your physician and the technologist if you recently had any barium studies or contrast injections.

*It is important to inform our office if you have had previous DEXA scans at another facility in order for our radiologist to compare these procedures. Please note that if your previous DEXA scan was performed on a different DEXA unit, a comparison may not be as accurate.