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Bone Densitometry

Preparing for Bone Densitometry Scanning

  • Unless instructed otherwise, eat normally on the day of the exam; but avoid taking calcium supplements for at least 24 hours prior to your appointment.
  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Sweat suits and other casual attire without zippers, buttons, grommets or any metal are preferred.
  • You should not have had a barium study, radioisotope injection, oral or intravenous contrast material from a CT scan or MRI within seven days prior to your DXA test.
  • Simple, proven x-ray method
  • Safe, low radiation
  • Helps determine whether you are at high, increased or low risk of fracturing a bone
  • Fast and comfortable... only takes minutes
  • Easy... patient remains clothed
  • Painless... non-invasive, no injections
  • 250lb weight limit

Bone densitometry, using an advanced technology called DXA (short for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), safely, accurately and painlessly measures bone mineral density. During a comprehensive examination with DXA, the patient lays comfortably still on a padded table while the DXA unit scans two or more areas, usually the fracture-prone hip and spine.

Unlike typical x-ray machines, radiation exposure during bone densitometry is extremely low - less than the radiation exposure during a coast-to-coast airline flight. The entire process takes only minutes to complete, depending on the number of sites scanned. It involves no injections or invasive procedures, and patients remain fully clothed.

Bone Density Screening