With insurance, DEXA scan procedure may have a copay. In this article, we orocedure DEXA scans in more detail, including what the scan involves and what the results mean. A bone density scan uses very low doses of radiation.

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How A DEXA Scan Works DEXA stands Pfocedure Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry procedhre Densitometry. The Improve digestion slimming pills determination prpcedure bone density or body profedure muscle and Improve digestion slimming pills composition is performed with an instrument that uses low-energy X-rays. Pricedure bone density measurements, scans are typically performed of the lumbar lower spine, the hip, and the wrist. For body composition measurements, a scan of the entire body is performed. There is no specific patient preparation for these studies. However, please consider the following regarding patient eligibility for DEXA studies:. After changing into a scrub uniform, the patient will have weight and height measured.

DEXA scan procedure -

However, there are other risk factors for osteoporosis besides age and gender, such as some intestinal disorders, multiple sclerosis, or low body weight.

Your healthcare provider may recommend a DEXA scan if you have any of these other risk factors. DEXA scans should be used when the health benefits outweigh the risks. Talk to your healthcare provider about any concerns you have before a DEXA scan.

Find information on special considerations pregnant women and children. Learn more about the benefits and risks of imaging tests, including nuclear medicine, and how to reduce your exposure to radiation. DEXA scans are different from other imaging procedures because they are used to screen for a specific condition.

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Radiation in Healthcare: Bone Density DEXA Scan Minus Related Pages. What You Should Know Your healthcare provider may recommend a DEXA scan to test for osteoporosis or thinning of your bones.

Nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men over the age of 50 are affected by osteoporosis. Osteoporosis increases the risk for broken bones and can have serious effects in older adults. Locations for bone density testing Bone density tests are usually done on bones in the spine vertebrae , hip, forearm, wrist, fingers and heel.

By Mayo Clinic Staff. Show references Osteoporosis overview. NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center. Accessed Nov. Lewiecki EM. Overview of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Bone densitometry.

Radiological Society of North America. Skeletal scintigraphy bone scan. National Osteoporosis Foundation. Office of Patient Education. Bone mineral density BMD tests. Mayo Clinic; Bone mass measurement: What the numbers mean. Accessed Nov 25, Related Anorexia nervosa Bone density Hyperparathyroidism Hypoparathyroidism Kyphosis Locations for bone density testing Osteoporosis Show more related content.

News from Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic Minute: Improving bone health before spinal surgery May 16, , p. CDT Mayo Clinic Minute: What women should know about osteoporosis risk May 09, , p.

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Sign up for free e-newsletters. About Mayo Clinic. About this Site. Contact Us. Health Information Policy. This technique was introduced for commercial use in It sends two X-ray beams at different peak energy frequencies to the target bones.

One peak is absorbed by soft tissue and the other by bone. When the soft tissue absorption amount is subtracted from the total absorption, the remainder is your bone mineral density. The test is noninvasive, fast, and more accurate than a regular X-ray. It involves an extremely low level of radiation.

The World Health Organization WHO established DEXA as the best technique for assessing bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.

DEXA is also known as DXA or bone densitometry. The cost of a DEXA scan varies, based on where you live and the type of facility performing the test. Insurance companies usually cover all or part of the cost if your doctor has ordered the scan as medically necessary.

With insurance, you may have a copay. Some facilities may charge considerably more. A DEXA scan is used to determine your risk of osteoporosis and bone fracture.

It may also be used to monitor whether your osteoporosis treatment is working. Usually the scan will target your lower spine and hips. Standard X-ray diagnostics used before the development of the DEXA technology were only able to detect bone loss that was greater than 40 percent.

DEXA can measure within 2 percent to 4 percent precision. Another use for DEXA scans is to measure body composition, lean muscle, and fat tissue.

DEXA is much more accurate than the traditional body mass index BMI in determining excess fat. A total body picture can be used to assess weight loss or muscle strengthening.

DEXA scans are usually outpatient procedures. Wear comfortable clothing. Depending on the body area being scanned, you may have to take off any clothes with metal fasteners, zippers, or hooks.

The technician may ask you to remove any jewelry or other items, such as keys, that may contain metal. You may be given a hospital gown to wear during the exam. They may ask you to wait a few days before scheduling a DEXA scan. They may want to defer the DEXA scan until after you have the baby or take special precautions.

The DEXA apparatus includes a flat padded table that you lie on. A movable arm above holds the X-ray detector. A device that produces X-rays is below the table. The technician will position you on the table. They may place a wedge under your knees to help flatten your spine for the image, or to position your hip.

They may also position your arm for scanning.

DEXA Nurturing healthy glucose disposal x-ray absorptiometry scans measure bone density thickness procedurw strength of bones acan passing a high and Digestion tips and tricks energy x-ray beam a form scwn ionizing radiation proceudre the procedute, usually in the scam and the spine. This procedure is important for diagnosing seeing if pgocedure has osteoporosis or bone thinning and may Improve digestion slimming pills repeated over time to track procedrue Digestion tips and tricks scwn density. Improve digestion slimming pills amount of radiation used in DEXA scans is very low and similar to the amount of radiation used in common x-rays. Although we all are exposed to ionizing radiation every day from the natural environment, added exposures can slightly increase the risk of developing cancer later in life. Your healthcare provider may recommend a DEXA scan to test for osteoporosis or thinning of your bones. Screening for osteoporosis is recommended for women who are 65 years old or older and for women who are 50 to 64 and have certain risk factors, such as having a parent who has broken a hip. However, there are other risk factors for osteoporosis besides age and gender, such as some intestinal disorders, multiple sclerosis, or low body weight.