Bone density how done

Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry DEXA , which uses a special x-ray scanning machine to measure bone density, is the most popular technique as it is fast and highly accurate. Another name for bone density testing is bone mass measurement. Osteoporosis is common in the elderly, particularly females. Certain diseases and conditions can also contribute to bone loss, including endocrine hormonal disease, chronic liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic renal failure.

Before undergoing the test, you will need to discuss a range of issues with your doctor, including:. In most cases, you will be asked to undress and put on a hospital gown.

All jewellery has to be removed prior to the test. There are several procedures which can be used to measure bone density, including:. Most bone density scans take around half an hour or so and you can go home straight away.

You will have to make a follow-up appointment with your doctor to discuss your results. The reference population for the T-score is young adults of the same sex as the patient, while the reference population for the Z-score is a group of the same age and sex as the person being tested.

Osteoporosis is diagnosed if your T-score is Bone density testing is a safe procedure and the dose of radiation is roughly the same as you would receive from the general environment in about one day.

Bone density testing is a safe and painless procedure with no after-effects. You can resume your normal activities as soon as the test is finished. If you have osteoporosis, for example, you may need to have repeat bone density tests to make sure your treatment is helping to preserve the integrity of your bones.

Try to have all future tests at the same testing facility using the same machine. This will rule out the possibility of any measurement differences between machines or facilities. Standard x-rays can only detect osteoporosis when around one-third of the bone mass has already gone. This means that x-rays cannot detect osteoporosis in its earlier stages.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. The abdominal muscles support the trunk, allow movement and hold organs in place by regulating internal abdominal pressure. Acromegaly is caused by an excess of growth hormone in adults, which causes the overgrowth of bones in the face, hands, feet and internal organs. But, there is little evidence that these drugs help them.

And, even if the drugs do help, they may only help for a few years. So, you may want to consider them only if you have serious bone loss. Serious bone loss is called osteoporosis. Fosamax, the brand-name of the same drug, can cost twice as much. Women should get a bone scan at age Men age 70 and up may want to talk with their doctors about the risks and benefits before deciding.

Younger women, and men ages 50 to 69, should consider the test if they have risk factors for serious bone loss. Risk factors include:. You may need a follow-up bone-density test after several years. That depends on the results of your first test. But as bone density varies in different parts of the skeleton, more than one part of your body may be scanned.

The forearm may be scanned for certain health problems, such as hyperparathyroidism , or if scans are not possible in the hip or spine. Some of the X-rays that are passed through your body will be absorbed by tissue, such as fat and bone. An X-ray detector inside the scanning arm measures the amount of X-rays that have passed through your body.

A bone density scan compares your bone density with the bone density expected for a young healthy adult or a healthy adult of your own age, gender and ethnicity. The difference is calculated as a standard deviation SD score. This measures the difference between your bone density and the expected value. The difference between your measurement and that of someone of the same age is known as a Z score.