DEXA Scan

Why Should I Have A DEXA Scan?

Your doctor may refer you for a DEXA scan to analyse your bone density. It is most commonly used to diagnose Osteoporosis.

What Happens During The DEXA Scan?

You are required to lie on a table, supported by a cushion while the scan takes place.

Is A DEXA Scan Painful?

A DEXA scan is a painless non-invasive procedure.

How Long Will The DEXA Scan Take?

The scan will take approximately 20 minutes.

How Do I Get The Results?

A report will be issued to your referring clinician detailing the findings from the scan.

Osteoporosis is a decrease in bone strength, which places a person at high risk of a bone break. It is often referred to as the â€˜silent diseaseâ€™ because there are no signs or symptoms prior to a fracture. Most people are not diagnosed until they have had multiple fractures. Osteoporosis is preventable in the majority of cases. For further information on Osteoporosis, please visit www.healthcarebookings.com

Who should have a DEXA scan?

Post-menopausal women under 65 have additional osteoporosis risk factors
Post-menopausal women who sustain a fracture
Women age 65 and older
Women who have been on hormone replacement therapy ( HRT/ERT) for prolonged periods
Men with clinical conditions associated with bone loss
Those with X-ray evidence of vertebral fracture
Those with very low body weight / anorexia

How it works

To evaluate bone density in the middle of the skeleton, a sizable scanning arm will be passed over your body during the scan. A small beam of low-dose X-rays will be passed across the area of your body being scanned as the scanning arm is progressively moved over your body. The Video shows more in detail on how the Dexa Scan works.