For younger adults, such as women still menstruating, as well as teenagers and children, most experts recommend using Z-scores to make a follow-up determination, although the NOF does not recommend routine bone density testing for these groups.
You may have come across peripheral tests or screening tests for osteoporosis. These are typically offered at health fairs. It is important to know that the screening tests are not able to diagnose osteoporosis. Screening tests simply identify people who should obtain further testing with a central DEXA.
The results of a peripheral versus a central DEXA test are also not comparable. Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. Click below and just hit send! Blake GM, Fogelman I. The role of DXA bone density scans in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. Postgrad Med J. Health Expect. Osteoporosis prevention, screening, and treatment: a review.
J Womens Health Larchmt. Radiological Society of North America. Updated August 10, Measuring body composition in overweight individuals by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. BMC Med Imaging. Osteoporosis Imaging in the Geriatric Patient.
Curr Radiol Rep. Radiation exposure in bone mineral density assessment. Appl Radiat Isot. Effect of calcium tablets on interpretation of lumbar spine DXA scans. J Clin Densitom. American Bone Health. Updated April 15, Choosing Wisely.
Bone-Density Tests. An overview and management of osteoporosis. Eur J Rheumatol. Sheu A, Diamond T. Bone mineral density: testing for osteoporosis. Aust Prescr. National Osteoporosis Foundation. Please contact your physician with specific medical questions or for a referral to a radiologist or other physician.
To locate a medical imaging or radiation oncology provider in your community, you can search the ACR-accredited facilities database. This website does not provide cost information.
The costs for specific medical imaging tests, treatments and procedures may vary by geographic region. Web page review process: This Web page is reviewed regularly by a physician with expertise in the medical area presented and is further reviewed by committees from the Radiological Society of North America RSNA and the American College of Radiology ACR , comprising physicians with expertise in several radiologic areas.
Outside links: For the convenience of our users, RadiologyInfo. Toggle navigation. What are some common uses of the procedure? How should I prepare? What does the equipment look like? How does the procedure work? How is the procedure performed? What will I experience during and after the procedure?
Who interprets the results and how will I get them? What are the benefits vs. Bone density testing is strongly recommended if you: are a post-menopausal woman and not taking estrogen. The Vertebral Fracture Assessment VFA , a low-dose x-ray examination of the spine to screen for vertebral fractures that is performed on the DXA machine, may be recommended for older patients, especially if: they have lost more than an inch of height. There are two types of DXA equipment: a central device and a peripheral device.
Your doctor will likely do this exam on an outpatient basis. Bone density tests are a quick and painless procedure. A clinician should review your DXA scan while assessing the presence of clinical risk factors such as: rheumatoid arthritis chronic renal and liver disease respiratory disease inflammatory bowel disease Your test results will be in the form of two scores: T score — This number shows the amount of bone you have compared with a young adult of the same gender with peak bone mass.
Benefits DXA bone densitometry is a simple, quick and noninvasive procedure. No anesthesia is required. The amount of radiation used is extremely small—less than one-tenth the dose of a standard chest x-ray, and less than a day's exposure to natural radiation.
DXA bone density testing is currently the best standardized method available to diagnose osteoporosis and is also considered an accurate estimator of fracture risk. DXA is used to make a decision whether treatment is required and it can be used to monitor the effects of the treatment. DXA equipment is widely available making DXA bone densitometry testing convenient for patients and physicians alike.
No radiation stays in your body after an x-ray exam. X-rays usually have no side effects in the typical diagnostic range for this exam. Risks There is always a slight chance of cancer from excessive exposure to radiation.
However, given the small amount of radiation used in medical imaging, the benefit of an accurate diagnosis far outweighs the associated risk. Women should always tell their doctor and x-ray technologist if they are pregnant. The radiation dose for this procedure varies.
Your T-score is your bone density compared with what is normally expected in a healthy young adult of your sex. Your T-score is the number of units — called standard deviations — that your bone density is above or below the average. Your score is a sign of osteopenia, a condition in which bone density is below normal and may lead to osteoporosis.
Your Z-score is the number of standard deviations above or below what's normally expected for someone of your age, sex, weight, and ethnic or racial origin. If your Z-score is significantly higher or lower than the average, you may need additional tests to determine the cause of the problem.
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This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview A bone density test determines if you have osteoporosis — a disorder characterized by bones that are more fragile and more likely to break. Bone density Open pop-up dialog box Close. Bone density With bone loss, the outer shell of a bone becomes thinner and the interior becomes more porous. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Locations for bone density testing Open pop-up dialog box Close. The technician will place an imaging device above them and an X-ray generator below them.
When measuring bone density, the technician will usually scan the hips and spine. These are common locations of fractures in people with osteoporosis. In some cases, the wrist, finger, and lower arm will undergo scanning.
A procedure that doctors call a vertebral fracture assessment may also occur during a DEXA scan at some locations. This test determines whether a vertebral fracture risk is present. When also measuring body composition, the entire body undergoes scanning. This measures skinfold thickness at specific sites on the body. Using an equation, it is possible to put the measurements together to determine a body fat percentage. During the scan, people should remain still to prevent blurry images. The scan is painless and relatively quick, taking up to 30 minutes.
The DEXA scan is safe for most people. However, because it uses X-ray energy, there is exposure to radiation. People who are pregnant should talk with their doctor, who may advise them not to have the test. A DEXA scan may also report results using a Z-score, which reports the amount of bone a person has in comparison with other people of the same size, age, and sex. It can help determine whether something uncommon is leading to bone loss. A score that is below
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