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BMD Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dexa a safe measure of Body Composition and Bone Mineral Density?
Yes, Dexa is safe. It emits a very low dose of radiation. In fact it is less than the daily dose that the average person receives from natural sources (caused by cosmic rays and environmental isotopes in our bodies and surroundings). Furthermore, Dexa produces 50 times less radiation than a typical x-ray.
Is Dexa a painful procedure?
No, in addition to the examination being performed relatively quickly, it is a completely painless procedure that simply requires the patient to lie still on the Dexa scanner’s padded platform for a few minutes. The length of the exam depends on the patient’s height and body type, but generally takes between 5 and 10 minutes. For detailed information on the procedure involved in a Dexa Bone Mineral Density Examination click here.
Why is Dexa the preferred method of testing bone loss amongst physicians and the medical community?
First and foremost, Dexa is the most accurate measure of bone loss available. Unlike other methods, it can measure as little as 2% of bone loss per year. Also, in areas of greatest risk to fracture (hip and spine), Dexa can accurately measure the effect of medications used to treat bone loss. Secondly, Dexa Bone Mineral Density testing involves a quick and painless procedure. No injections are involved, the dose of radiation is extremely minimal (less than daily natural intake), and testing takes no more than 10 minutes on average. Finally, Dexa is of such great value to the medical community in general because it acts as the “gold standard” for Bone Mineral Density testing. This standard signifies that the results obtained through Dexa scanning are the benchmark for accuracy and reproducibility against which other methods are measured.
What are the other methods that measure BMD and why don’t they meet the Gold Standard?
Peripheral Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (P-DEXA)
This exam measures bone density in outlying areas of the body such as the wrist. However, there are two major disadvantages. PDEXA cannot measure the density of bones in the hip and spine (the areas of greatest bone loss, and of greatest concern). This procedure also has a limited usefulness for monitoring the effect of medication used to treat osteopenia (compared to DEXA).
Dual Photon Absorptiometry (DPA)
Uses a radioactive substance to measure Bone Mineral Density. The disadvantage of DPA is its slow scan time, meaning patients have to wait longer for exams and results.
Ultrasound
Uses sound waves to determine one's BMD. However, like P-Dexa, procedure cannot measure the density of bones in the hip and spine. It is limited in its ability of monitoring the effect of medication used to treat osteopenia and osteoporosis (compared to DEXA).
• General Information - A brief background description of the importance of BMD testing
• Procedure - Everything you need to know about the examination and how it should be
prepared for
• Price - A cost breakdown of testing and possible coverage
• FAQ - Answers to a variety of frequently asked questions concerning BMD testing
• Osteoporosis - Click here for further information on this debilitating disease
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