DEXA Scan or Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry Scan is mainly conducted to quantify bone mineral density.
Two X-ray shafts of light, consisting of different energy levels, are allowed to intend the bones of the patient. The created pictures help identify the bone loss and patients who are at risk of osteoporosis or other debilitating conditions.
DEXA scans are often used to diagnose or assess someone’s risk of osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones and makes them more likely to break. Bone mineral density, which is commonly abbreviated as BMD, is also measured by this type of X-ray.
How does it help?
The technology of DEXA scan helps in identifying and early diagnosis of a lot of conditions associated with bone density. The test can assess an individual’s risk of developing fractures and tracking the effects of treatment for osteoporosis and other conditions that cause bone loss. The Lateral Vertebral Assessment (LVA), may be recommended for older patients for a low-dose x-ray examination of the spine to screen for vertebral fractures that is performed on the DEXA machine.