Bone Density/DEXA

Doctor performing a bone density scan on a patient

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Bone Densitometry Provides Early Diagnosis of Osteoporosis

Bone densitometry is an important tool in the detection and treatment of osteoporosis. The most advanced form of bone densitometry, DEXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), is a non-invasive and painless X-ray test of the spine, hip, and arm bones that gives doctors precise information about the amount of calcium in the bones.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common, often age-related condition in which bones become thinner, more fragile, and more likely to break. Osteoporosis is linked to a gradual loss of calcium, as well as structural changes in the bones. Half of women and a quarter of men over age 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture, often of hip or wrist bone, or a rib or vertebra.

Osteoporosis is more common in women because lower levels of estrogen after women reach menopause lead to bone loss. The disease is also more likely to occur in alcoholics, people with anorexia, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, gastrointestinal disease, and women who have had their ovaries removed. Some antiseizure medications, chemotherapy, proton pump inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and steroids can also lead to osteoporosis.

Bone density testing is recommended for:

Post-menopausal woman who are not taking estrogen
People with a personal or maternal history of hip fracture or smoking
Men with clinical conditions linked to bone loss
People taking corticosteroids, certain anti-seizure medications, or high-dose thyroid replacement drugs
Those with type 1 diabetes, liver or kidney disease, or a family history of osteoporosis
People with a thyroid or parathyroid condition
Those who have had a fracture following only mild trauma

At Columbia Radiology, we provide state-of-the-art bone densitometry in a convenient outpatient settings. Our Hologic Dual Energy X-ray (DEXA) Densitometer is an advanced way to diagnose osteoporosis and other bone demineralization conditions. Osteoporosis is preventable and treatable, and early detection is the best way to protect yourself from its potentially debilitating effects. With the DEXA test, we can determine your risk and take measures to reduce that risk safely and easily.

How do I prepare for the test?

No special preparation is necessary before you have a bone densitometry test.

What will happen during the test?

During the test the X-ray technologist will ask you to lie on an examination table for a few minutes. To obtain an image of your spine the technologist will place your legs on a padded box to position your pelvis and lower spine on the table. To image your hip, the technologist will place your foot in a brace that rotates the hip inward. The detector will then pass slowly over the area to be examined, and will transmit the images to a computer. The entire procedure takes from 10 to 20 minutes.

Are there any risks?

Bone density is a simple, safe, non-invasive, and painless scan. The amount of radiation you are exposed to during a DEXA scan is a fraction of that from a standard X-ray.

After the test

After the exam you can immediately resume your normal activities. A radiologist will analyze the DEXA images and will share the results with the doctor who requested the exam. Your doctor will then discuss the results with you.

How to Access Your Images

You can view, download, or share your exams through your Connect patient portal.

Once you are logged in, select “View Radiology Images” from the menu. A new web browser window will open to display a list of your exams.

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