The non-invasive assessment of the skeleton to diagnose osteoporosis or assess fracture risk is rapidly becoming a universally employed diagnostic procedure. It is driven by the availability of reliable densitometry equipment, the generally aging population, and the increasing awareness of women's health issues.
Dual x-ray absorpitometry (DEXA) was first introduced in 1987 and has become a widely accepted and sensitive method for the assessment of bone mineral density. DEXA is highly reproducible, with precision errors in normal adults of 1% or less at the spine and 1.5% at the femur. This allows for accurate measurement of both age-related bone loss and skeletal changes in response to therapy. The radiation effective doses are extremely low; at least 100 times less than those of conventional imaging.
The greatest advantage of DEXA is its versatility, as virtually any skeletal site can be measured, including the spine, proximal femur, forearm, hand and total body. In fact, DEXA is the only available technique that can readily measure the femoral neck, where the most devastating osteoporotic fractures can occur.
Ascot Radiology uses a LUNAR IQ system which is quick, simple, painless and uses minimal radiation. Measurements are made of the spine and hip and the results are analysed in conjuction with a patient questionnaire. A report and recommendation is made by a specialist endocrinologist.
To download a pdf of our DEXA brochure, please click on the link below.
