Encyclopaedia Britannica. Find out more about your health during pregnancy, Page last reviewed: 7 March 2019 A DEXA scan will normally be carried out at hospital. Find nearby locations and pricing to get you an on-the-spot assessment of your body composition. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. BMJ Best Practice. Leaving your company health insurance scheme? b6f6d1e9-e910-457a-8478-ebad57598a2c-1690, Health insurance specifically for business, Help to understand your health and identify any future health risks, To discuss your healthcare needs call us on, Personal theros.org.uk, accessed 26 March 2019, Bone densitometry (DEXA, DXA). The more dense your bones, the stronger and less likely they are to break (fracture). Sometimes, you may have an additional scan, called a Vertebral Fracture Assessment (VFA). Find nearby locations and pricing , to get you an on-the-spot assessment of your body composition. The patient may be either required to step into an X-ray chamber and lie still on a table for a few minutes or simply be tested using small, portable devices. NHS England National Statistics, published 14 March 2019. www.england.nhs.uk, Scans, tests and results. Close menu. Our short survey takes just a few minutes to complete and helps us to keep improving our health information. Your bones become weak, brittle and more likely to break, and you'll usually lose bone density. The information contained on this page and in any third party websites referred to on this page is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice nor is it intended to be for medical diagnosis or treatment. These take into account factors that might increase your risk, including your medical history, age, sex, height, weight, and any medication you’re on. 0345 600 4622^, 7cd4e4fb-645b-41bf-b370-1275ad0ac305-CBE3, Talk to a travel expert By Professor David Reid 2020-12-20 . You’ll want to look at all the results, not just the summary page. Enquire now. Menu Dexa Scan Cost Range from Rs 2000 to Rs 6000 in India. Radiological Society of North America. It’s the most accurate way of measuring your muscle mass, fat percentage and bone density. This might include bisphosphonates as well as calcium and vitamin D supplements. Bone density scan (DEXA, DXA) DEXA scan stands for dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Small changes in bone mineral density are not significant. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), August 2012. www.nice.org.uk, Bone mineral density. If you’re interested in maintaining good health and can afford it you should get a DEXA scan to track the progress of your health and fitness regime (or lack thereof). The DEXA Scan is the clinical gold standard for measuring fat, muscle, and bone density. Centre for Metabolic Bone Diseases, University of Sheffield, UK. Radiation can be harmful to your body if you have a high dose. Based in Leeds, our Customer Care Team provides free advice and support whenever you need it. If your T score is above 1, your Dexa scan is considered normal. Expert reviewer, Henry Maxwell, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon By comparison, a chest X-ray uses the equivalent of about 3 days' exposure to NBR, and a flight to North America is equivalent to approximately a week's exposure to NBR. You won’t need treatment if you’re diagnosed with osteopenia or told you’re at risk of developing osteoporosis. From the images the doctor will be able to evaluate bone mineral (calcium) content of the bone. Bone that is less dense can be more prone to fracture. You will usually only be invited to have a DEXA scan if your doctor has assessed you as being at risk of fragility fractures. The T-score compares your bone density to the average for a young, healthy person. We have provided an indication of the cost of a private dexa bone scan based on the prices published by several of the major providers of private surgery. They’ll send their findings in a report to your GP or the doctor who referred you for the scan. Oxford Medicine Online. But the amount you’re exposed to in a DEXA scan is very low – much less than you’d get in other tests (for example, in a chest X-ray). The important ranges to note in these graphs are the blue sections (between -1 and +1) which give an estimate of a healthy range of bone density. There are a number of other scans and tests that can help to find out how strong your bones are. The DEXA Scan has many over other body fat measuring methods. For more details on how we produce our content and its sources, visit the 'About our health information' section. The Royal College of Radiologists, 2015. www.rcr.ac.uk. A machine sends X-rays from two different sources through the bone being tested. This is known as osteopenia. Your bone density measurements will be compared with the bone density of a young healthy adult or an adult of your own age, gender and ethnicity. Oxford handbook of general practice. Bone density scans are often used to diagnose or assess your risk of osteoporosis, a health condition that weakens bones and makes them more likely to break. Testing your bone density -- how strong your bones are -- is the only way to know for sure if you have osteoporosis. If you're being treated (or have been) with Hormone Therapy such as Zoladex, Prostap etc, one of the biggest potential side effects is Osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). Next review due: 7 March 2022, over 50 with a risk of developing osteoporosis, under 50 with other risk factors, such as smoking or a previous broken bone. It works by passing two safe and very low dose x-ray beams at differing energy levels through the tissues of the body. DEXA scans use very low levels of X-ray radiation to produce images of your bones. The Surat Osteoporosis Detection Center Scan is the clinical gold standard for measuring fat, muscle, and bone density. Obtain copies of your full bone density reports from your DEXA or DXA scans. DXA is an abbreviation for "Dual-energy X-Ray Absorptiometry". These may include: They will also usually measure your height and weight. Click export CSV or RIS to download the entire page or use the checkboxes to select a subset of records to download Export CSV Export RIS × Warning, download options selected. Try to get regular, brief exposure to the sun, without letting your skin burn. Osteoporosis is a complex, multi-factorial disease that may progress silently over years. A fragility fracture is when your bones become weakened due to osteoporosis, so that even a minor bump or fall causes them to break. Staying with a friend in Italy, she told me she was going for one - did I want one too? A Dexa Scan uses two different types of waves that are reflected by lean muscle and bone differently. You have a DEXA scan in the x-ray (radiology) or nuclear medicine department of the hospital. What is a DEXA Scan? cks.nice.org.uk, last revised December 2016, Osteoporosis. The amount of radiation used during a bone density scan is very low and less than 2 days' exposure to natural background radiation (NBR). PatientPlus. It can be used to diagnose osteoporosis (fragile bones) or to assess your risk of developing this condition. However, it will need to be authorised by a qualified health professional. A DEXA scan is a high-precision type of X-ray that measures your bone mineral density and bone loss. It’s important to lie very still while the scan is being done to stop the images from being blurred. You might not be able to have a DEXA scan because there is a risk that the radiation could harm your unborn baby. oxfordmedicine.com, published online April 2014, Osteoporosis. Metal buttons, zips or jewellery could show up on the scan. The Total Body: Bone Density report provides a general image of the skeleton, as well as two colorful graphs that indicate where among the range of T-scores your bone density measurement lies compared to NHANES data. DEXA Scan also gives you precise measurements of fat and muscle distributed around your body. Oxford Medicine Online. Find a healthcare professional or service. This won’t be harmful. Edited by: Top Doctors ® A DEXA scan, or DXA scan, is a type of X-ray that is used to measure bone density. The Z-score compares your bone density with that of people your own age, size and sex. If you are going on holiday, think about having a DEXA scan abroad! qfracture.org, accessed 26 March 2019, Monthly diagnostics commissioner. The detector measures the amount of radiation it receives that has passed through your bones. It will generally take a few days. This allows you to optimize your program to suit your body’s needs. The scan will expose you to some X-ray radiation. This is because we believe that trustworthy information is essential in helping you make better decisions about your health and wellbeing. I have found European hospitals often provide state-of-the-art care at a lower price than private care in UK. If you’re pregnant or think you might be, it's important to let your doctor or radiographer know. Osteoporosis can affect anyone at any age, although older postmenopausal women are particularly at risk. This test measures the density of bone. A radiologist – a doctor specially trained to interpret X-ray images – will analyse your results. During a bone density scan, a special type of X-ray called dual energy X-ray absorptiometry is passed through your body. The Article Provides a Complete Guide To Meaning, Purpose, Results, Risks & FAQs. But you’ll need to allow around two hours for your appointment because you may need other tests too. DEXA Scan is Helpful to Diagnose Osteoporosis and Assess Bone Strength. A T-score of between 0 and –1 means your bone density is in the normal range for a young, healthy person. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Unlike some other types of scan, you won’t be enclosed in any way (in a tunnel, for example). DEXA scans can be used to diagnose osteoporosis. Your doctor may ask you to have a fracture risk assessment: Doctors use special online tools to calculate your fracture risk. If you smoke, try to stop because smoking increases the risk of fragility fractures. Back to top. Bone blocks a certain amount of the X-rays. It may help your doctor decide about starting treatment and give an idea of whether or not a full DEXA scan or other tests are necessary. DEXA means ‘dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. A bone scan is a form of nuclear imaging that allows physicians to diagnose and then track several different bone diseases. You may need to have a bone density scan if you're: The results from a bone density scan are usually used alongside a fracture risk assessment to assess your chances of osteoporosis and breaking a bone. No special preparation is … The T score indicates whether your bone density falls within a normal range for a person in her 30s, when bone density peaks, while the Z score is a comparison against other individuals of your age, sex and weight. January 2019. Next review due May 2022. Bone density scans are very safe. They use a much lower level of radiation than standard X-rays, which means that the radiographer (the technical specialist carrying out the scan) can stay in the scanning room with you during the scan. You may be able to get a DEXA scan at a private hospital or clinic without a referral from your GP. Those on high deductible health plans or without insurance can shop, compare prices and save. This is where your scan results are compared to peak bone mass, which the normal bone density is found in healthy people aged between 23 and 35. Find out more about how bone density scans are carried out. Your spine and hip are two of the most common places to break bones if you have osteoporosis. These include: These alternative tests aren’t as good at measuring bone-mineral density as a DEXA scan. By using two different X-ray sources rather than one it greatly improves the accuracy in measuring the bone density. A DEXA scan is said to be the gold standard for measuring body composition. www.radiologyinfo.org, reviewed 10 August 2018, Guidelines for the provision of a clinical bone densitometry service. www.britannica.com, accessed 26 March 2019, Bone density scan. cks.nice.org.uk, last revised September 2018, Management of osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures. Oxford handbook of geriatric medicine. A small X-ray will scan your lumbar spine and both hips. The more dense the bone is, the less X-rays get through to the detector. They may ask you to have further tests to assess your bone health, including blood and urine tests, and X-rays. On MDsave, the cost of Bone Density DXA Scan ranges from $85 to $364 . You’ll need to take any keys and wallets out of your pockets and remove any other metal objects such as glasses, piercings or dental appliances. Dear All, I've just had my latest DEXA scan done this morning, and realised we haven't mentioned this subject in a long time. A DEXA scan, or dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, uses x ray technology to determine the distribution of lean muscle, fat, water and bone in your body. These scans are safe, quick and painless. This can be easily found by using the entrance to the right of the Peter Smith Surgery Centre . Photos are only for illustrative purposes and do not reflect every presentation of a condition. Osteoporosis is a condition of low bone density that reduces bone strength and may result in fractures, physical deformity and/or pain. Next review due May 2022. It is considered the gold standard for bone density testing and … You may be asked to come back for another scan within the next two years if you were found to be at risk of developing osteoporosis. It also complies with the HONcode standard and follows the principles of the The Information Standard. Dexa scan involves a technique called Dual Energy X-ray absorptiometry, in which the bones are exposed to a small amount of radiation under controlled conditions for a very short period of time. Sometimes, you may already be seeing a hospital consultant if you’ve had a broken bone or are attending a fracture clinic. DEXA stands for Dual Emission or Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. You should be told when to expect your results and how to get them before you leave your appointment. The X-ray machine is located underneath you. Third party websites are not owned or controlled by Bupa and any individual may be able to access and post messages on them. Arrangements will vary at different hospitals and in different areas. You’ll be asked to lie on your back on a padded table during the scan. A low Z-score, particularly if you’re young, can indicate that there might be something that’s affecting your bone density levels. It works by aiming two X-ray beams at a bone, which are either absorbed or pass through the bone. Arranging care can be stressful, we’re here to help. If you drink alcohol, stick to the recommended limit of no more than 14 units a week. You may want to consider taking a vitamin D supplement too because it’s hard to get enough from your diet. A DEXA scan detects weak or brittle bones to help predict the odds of a future fracture and, sometimes, to determine if someone should be taking medication (such as a bisphosphonate) to slow bone loss.1 After an initial DEXA scan, subsequent scans can be done to compare the progression of bone loss—in other words, comparing a baseline scan with a second scan can show if bone density is improving, worsening, or staying th… The denser the bone, the fewer X-rays can pass through. An advanced DEXA scan is a diagnostic tool which looks at the apparent density of a patient’s bone to discover the risk of osteoporosis and identify fractures and breaks. A DEXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan measures the density of your bones to show how strong they are. Find out more >, To book or to make an enquiry, call us on 0333 305 9650^. A bone density scan uses low dose X-rays to see how dense (or strong) your bones are. This information is then used to generate images on a computer monitor. How does a DEXA scan work? Make sure you’re getting enough vitamin D, as this helps your body absorb calcium. Quality standard. The chart below shows the common ways body mass is measured. Learn more about our editorial team and principles >, Being active is an important part of a healthy lifestyle for everybody, particularly for staying healthy into old age, Reviewed by Pippa Coulter, Freelance Health Editor, May 2019 0808 271 8573 ^, Members How is it carried out? Royal Osteoporosis Society. It only adds a few extra minutes to a normal DEXA procedure. A DEXA scan will normally be carried out at hospital. 0800 00 10 22 ^, 1939639f-6ce5-4533-8d3e-08da56760ea0-8B26, Reviewed by experts, written in plain English, Over 300 articles, from our health experts, to help you live a longer, healthier, happier life, With more and more of us touched by dementia, getting the right information is essential, If you've injured your knee or have a long-term knee problem, we can help you find the information and support you need, Information to help you during your cancer journey, Info and advice to help yours and your colleagues workplace mental health, Expert reviewer, Henry Maxwell, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon This is shortened to DEXA. Some radiation is absorbed by the bone and soft tissue, and some travels through your body. British Dietetic Association, July 2017. www.bda.uk.com, Vitamin D deficiency in adults – treatment and prevention. No special preparations are needed. It may take a few weeks to get an appointment for a DEXA scan, depending on your local hospital. A DEXA scan is sometimes referred to as a DXA or a bone density scan. It can help to predict your risk of having another fracture but it’s not as good as a standard DEXA scan for this.