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Why measure bone density?
Low bone density is the greatest risk factor for spine and hip fractures. Each year there are approximately 700,000 spine fractures and 250,000 hip fractures in the United States. More than 90% of these occur in people with bone density measurement in the osteoporotic range. The association between low bone density and osteoporotic fracture is similar to the association between cholesterol and heart disease, or blood pressure and stroke. Like cholesterol level and blood pressure, bone density is a risk factor that can be changed. You can’t do much about other risk factors such as age, sex, race, or genetic background, but low bone mass can be prevented and treated. Your physician can use the results of a bone density test to determine if medication to prevent or treat osteoporosis is advisable for you. DXA bone density studies of the spine and hip are considered the "gold standard" for diagnosing osteoporosis and following changes in bone density over time. DXA stands for dual x-ray absorptiometry. It was previously known as DEXA, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Low dose x-ray of two different energies are used to distinguish between bone and soft tissue, giving a very accurate measurement of bone density at these sites.Is a DXA bone density scan the same as a bone scan? No. The two studies are often confused because they sound alike, but they are different techniques used for different purposes. A bone scan is a nuclear medicine study used to look for cancer, stress fractures, and other bone or joint problems. It does not measure bone density and is not used to diagnose osteoporosis. How do I prepare for a DXA scan? No special patient preparation is necessary. We only ask that you don’t wear anything with buttons, snaps, or zippers from the waist down. Wearing pants with an elastic waistband will allow you to remain fully clothed during the study. Please bring the bone densitometry request from your physician. If you have had any x-rays using contrast such as barium, or any nuclear medicine studies, please wait one week before having a DXA scan. What can I expect to happen during the DXA scan? DXA is a painless, non-invasive test. You will be asked to lie still and quiet on a padded table, but you will be able to breathe normally. The study lasts only a few minutes. The x-ray dose you will be exposed to is extremely low, similar to what you would receive on a long distance airplane flight. The results of your DXA scan will be sent to your referring physician by the next day. You should arrange to discuss the results with your physician. |
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