Dexa Scan Testing

DEXA scan of a hip joint (Courtesy of Hologic, Inc.) The most commonly used test for osteoporosis is called a DEXA scan.

DEXA Scan
The DEXA test is an X-ray scan that can be used to measure the amount of bone throughout your body. In general, the denser the bones, the stronger they are and thus bone mass or density can predict the likelihood or risk of fracture

DEXA scan basics

• The DEXA scan evaluates bone mineral density, or BMD.
• The results predict the likelihood of fracture.
• BMD is generally measured in the spine and hip.
• The DEXA scan calculates bone density based on the amount of radiation absorbed by the bone, and compares your bone strength with that of young premenopausal women and other women in your age group.

What to expect when you get a DEXA scan

DEXA scans can be performed in hospital radiology departments, free-standing radiology group facilities, or in doctors' offices. When you get a DEXA scan, you don't need to undress, except to remove metal objects from the area to be scanned. You simply lie down on a special table for several minutes as the scan monitor moves over your body. You are not in an enclosed space, the test is painless, and takes only about 20 minutes.

The amount of radiation in a usual DEXA scan is less than, the amount of radiation in a chest X-ray (which is sometimes compared to the amount of extra radiation you'd get from the sun if you lived for a short time at high altitudes).