When Should I Have Bone Density Testing? What Does It Show?

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is commonly referred to as a bone density test.  It is most often used to diagnose osteoporosis, a condition that causes bones to thin and become more fragile, and osteopenia, or low bone density. The test can provide a great deal of valuable information about the condition of your bones and the likelihood that you will experience a break. 

Bone Density Testing

Osteoporosis Screening

Osteoporosis afflicts one in three women after menopause.  As a result, it is advisable for women to have a baseline bone density scan taken at age 50, and follow-ups are usually ordered every two years thereafter.  Postmenopausal women are not the only ones at risk for osteoporosis, however. Men, younger women, and rarely even children can develop the condition.  The National Osteoporosis Foundation also recommends DEXA screening for the following categories of patients:

• Those who break a bone after age 50
• Men over 70
• Younger men and women with certain risk factors

Several factors can increase your chances of developing osteoporosis. Those at higher risk include:

• Post menopausal women who do not take estrogen
• Post menopausal women over 5’7” or under 125 pounds
• Patients with conditions associated with bone loss
• Patients taking certain medications, including corticosteroids, Dilantin, or thyroid replacement drugs
• Patients with type 1 diabetes, kidney or liver disease, hypothyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, or a family history of osteoporosis
• Patients with a history of certain types of fractures

Bone density testing also may be ordered in the following cases:

• X-ray evidence of a break in the spine
• Back pain that indicates a possible spine break
• Height loss of ½ inch or more within a year
• Total height loss of 1 ½ inches or more
• Following an organ or bone marrow transplant
• Drop in hormone levels, such as after menopause or during certain cancer treatments

Determining Necessity and Effectiveness of Treatment

DEXA screening can help you understand the likelihood that you will break a bone and prevention measures that may be advisable. Your risk of breakage is influenced not only by the condition of your bones at the present time, but also by your age, weight, medical history, and lifestyle choices.  Taking all of these factors into consideration will help your health care provider to assess your risk of breakage and what therapies might be appropriate.  If you undergo treatment for osteoporosis, follow-up DEXA tests can provide information about the effectiveness and progress of your therapy.

What to Expect

If you come to Iowa Radiology for a DEXA scan, plan for a 30-minute appointment, about 10 minutes of which will be the actual scan.  Be sure to avoid calcium supplements for at least 24 hours before the test.  During the exam, you will lie on your back on a padded table, over which an X-ray arm will move as it gathers images.  Typically, you will be asked to lie still in two different positions in order to take images of your hip and lower spine. There are no restrictions following this test, so you are free to immediately resume your normal activities. We will have a report of the results to your physician within one business day.

At Iowa Radiology, we believe in the importance of informing and educating our patients to enable them to make the best possible choices for the health and to help them feel comfortable with any procedures they undergo.  If you ever have any questions about a procedure, feel free to contact us, and we will do our best to provide the answers you seek. We offer bone density testing at our Ankeny and Clive locations for your convenience. 

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