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Imaging Services
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DEXA
 DXA BONE DENSITOMETRY
Today, doctors are better equipped to detect and treat bone loss in its earliest stages, so as to prevent the disease or lessen its impact. Also, several drug therapies now on the market have been shown to be clinically effective in slowing down or reversing the bone-loss process.
Just as no physician would prescribe a medication for hypertension without first taking the patient's blood pressure, the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis should begin with an objective, quantifiable measurement of the patient's bone mass or bone density.
Bone densitometry, using an advanced technology called DXA (short for Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry), safely, accurately and painlessly measures bone density and the mineral content of bone. During a comprehensive bone evaluation with DXA, the patient lies comfortably still on a padded table while the DXA unit scans one or more areas, usually the fracture-prone spine or the hip. Unlike typical x-ray machines, radiation exposure during bone densitometry is extremely low(less than the radiation exposure during a coast-to-coast airline flight.) The entire process takes only minutes to complete, depending on the number of sites scanned. It involves no injections or invasive procedures.
How DXA Bone Densitometry Works
1. The Equipment: DXA is a fast, convenient and precise way to measure bone density to determine a woman's risk of developing osteoporosis.
2. Bone Density Scan: Most common examination sites are the fracture-prone hip, spine and sometimes the forearm. Evaluation also includes measurement of height and weight, a thorough history, and risk assessment.
3. Data Analysis: Bone Mineral Density (BMD) is calculated and compared to normal BMD values, matched for age and sex, to confirm or exclude osteoporosis. A low BMD by DXA may predict the likelihood of developing osteoporosis and can help determine a treatment plan.
4. The Report: A report will be sent to the doctor which consists of your bone density measurements, a comparison of results against an extensive database of young, normal bone density values, a comparison of results against a database of other patients of same age and sex, and recommendations for treatment and prevention.
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