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Bone Densitometry

A bone density test, or scan, is designed to check for osteoporosis, a disease that occurs when the bones become thin and weak. Osteoporosis happens when the bones lose calcium and other minerals that keep them strong. Osteoporosis begins after menopause in many women, and worsens after age 65, often resulting in serious fractures. Most people today will get a bone density scan from a machine using a technology called Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry or DEXA for short. This machine takes a picture of the bones in the spine, and hip  and calculates their density.

To take a DEXA bone density scan, the patient lies on a bed underneath the scanner, a curving plastic arm that emits x rays. These low-dose x rays form a fan beam that rotates around the patient. During the test, the scanner moves to capture images of the patient's spine, and hip. A computer then compares the patient's bone strength and risk of fracture to that of other people in the United States at the same age and to young people at peak bone density. Bones reach peak density at age 30 and then start to lose mass. The test takes about 20 minutes to do and is painless.

Normal results The patient, when compared with people at "young normal bone density" (called the T-score) has the same or denser bones than a healthy 30-year-old. T scores above 1 mean that a patient has a healthy bone mass. Scores from 0 to -1 mean that the patient has borderline bone mass and should repeat the test in two to five years. Abnormal results The patient has two to four times the risk of a broken bone as other people in the United States at the same age and those at peak bone density. If a patient's T score ranges from -1 to -2.5 they have low bone mass and are at risk for osteoporosis. A T score below -2.5 means osteoporosis is already evident. These patients should have a repeat bone density scan every year or two.

Who should have a DEXA scan? Anyone who: *  is at risk for osteoporosis *  is near menopause *  has broken a bone after a modest trauma *  has a family history of osteoporosis *  uses steroid or antiseizure medications *  has had a period of restricted mobility for more than six months