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Get Directions to Arthritis Medical Clinic RiversideBone Densitometry (DEXA) in Riverside, CA
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A simple test can tell you if you have osteoporosis. It measures your bone mineral density, or BMD.
Overview of Bone Densitometry (DEXA)
A simple test can tell you if you have osteoporosis. It measures your bone mineral density, which is sometimes called BMD.
Understanding Bone Densitometry (DEXA)
BMD is the amount of bone you have in one area. It can be measured in different parts of your body. Most often, it is measured at your spine and your hip. This includes a part of the hip called the femoral neck, at the top of the thighbone (femur). The best test for BMD today is a DEXA scan. Its full name is dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. It is also called DXA.
The test is quick and painless. It is like an X-ray, but it uses much less radiation. Even so, pregnant women should not have it, so there is no risk to the baby. Your results are compared with the BMD of young, healthy people. They are given as a number called a T-score. Here is what the scores mean:
DXA T-score and Bone mineral density (BMD)
| T-score | BMD Status |
|---|---|
| Not lower than –1.0 | Normal |
| Between –1.0 and –2.5 | Osteopenia (mild BMD loss) |
| –2.5 or lower | Osteoporosis |
People with osteopenia usually have a lower risk of breaking a bone than people with osteoporosis. But if bone loss goes on, the risk of a break goes up.
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