Dexa Scan
Your doctor may refer you for a DEXA scan to analyse your bone density. It is most commonly used to diagnose Osteoporosis.
You are required to lie on a table, supported by a cushion while the scan takes place.
A DEXA scan is a painless non-invasive procedure.
The scan will take approximately 20 minutes.
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 ‘silent disease’ 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
  • 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.

Get in touch with us!

Dexa Unit-Galway Clinic

Suite 26 Dexa Unit, Galway Clinic