{"id":5400,"date":"2023-03-07T20:14:47","date_gmt":"2023-03-07T20:14:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pockethealthqa.wpengine.com\/?p=5400"},"modified":"2025-05-12T18:19:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T22:19:13","slug":"a-radiologists-guide-to-getting-a-bone-density-scan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pockethealth.com\/patient-resources\/a-radiologists-guide-to-getting-a-bone-density-scan\/","title":{"rendered":"A Radiologist\u2019s Guide to Getting a Bone Density Scan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Alexander Mansfield, Staff Radiologist at Headwaters Health Care Center in Orangeville, ON, <\/span>explains what a bone density scan is and how it helps to detect bone disorders such as osteoporosis.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

What is a bone density scan?<\/h3>\n

A bone density scan is a screening test to evaluate for decreased bone mass (known in medicine as osteopenia and osteoporosis) and help determine a patient\u2019s fracture risk. A bone scan is also used to follow patients with low bone mass to assess the effectiveness of therapy which can include medications, exercise and other lifestyle changes.<\/p>\n

What is a DEXA bone density scan?<\/h3>\n

DEXA (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) is the type of scan used to determine a
\nperson\u2019s bone density. Two x-ray energies are used. The density of the bone is measured by the strength of the x-ray beams passing through the body. It determines a patient\u2019s bone mineral density in grams\/square centimeter.<\/p>\n

What information does a bone scan provide?<\/h3>\n

A bone scan determines the bone density of the spine and hip in grams\/square centimeter.<\/span><\/p>\n

The bone density is then compared to a database of normals for a patient\u2019s age and sex providing a T-score. This score gives a measure of how far above or below the normal average one is. The T-score can be expressed as a percentile or as a standard deviation from the normal average.<\/span><\/p>\n