DEXA Scans Measure Bone Density

Being told to book a bone scan raises an obvious question, which is what the scan actually measures.

This page explains the bone density test known as a DEXA scan, in plain terms, for readers in Lodi who have been told to book one or are wondering whether to ask. It covers what the scan is, the words that appear on a report, and what to ask the person who reviews the result.

What the scan is

Cleveland Clinic says a DXA scan is an imaging test that measures the strength of your bones. It uses X-rays to measure your bone density. For a fuller walk-through, see the Cleveland Clinic page on the DEXA scan.

Words you may meet on a report

Two terms you may hear are osteopenia and osteoporosis. Cleveland Clinic keeps a separate page on osteopenia and another on osteoporosis if you want to read the terms before your result arrives.

Questions that make the visit useful

A number without context is hard to act on. Ask the person reviewing the scan what the result is being compared against and what the label means for you. Ask whether the scan will be repeated and what would be done differently depending on the answer. Ask what any follow-up test or treatment would cost before you agree to it.

What to tell the person who examines it

Bring a short list. Say whether you have broken a bone, and how. Say which medicines you take, and mention any family history you know of. If a fracture is part of your story, Cleveland Clinic also publishes a page on hip fracture that you can read first. Then let the examiner decide what the scan result means.