Contact Info
- 022-23667830
- 022-23667837
- 7738067825
- Department@gmail.com
- Ground Floor, Breach Candy Hospital Trust, 60-A, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai - 400026.
DEXA or BMD
DEXA (DXA) scans are used to measure bone density or the strength of the bone. Additionally it can also assess BMI and whole body fat analysis can be performed.
Breach Candy Hospital Trust utilizes Horizon WI by Hologic machine.
In India due to a predominant vegetarian diet leading to a deficiency of vitamin D we are at high risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis means porous and weak bones, which are prone to fractures. Osteoporosis and osteopenia can be easily detected by DEXA and treatment initiated by a regular screening by DEXA scan.
It is very important to measure bone density in postmenopausal women and for those under certain medications such as corticosteroids, immunosuppressive, chemotherapy which decrease the bone density.
Preparation
No special preparations are needed before having a DEXA scan.
How is it done?
A DEXA (DXA) scan is a quick and painless procedure that involves you being supine on the machine so the scanner can scan your body producing bone density levels. For bone density of your fore arms you will sit up and the forearms individually will be scanned. It takes 10 -15 minutes for the scan to be finished. You may be able to remain fully clothed, depending on the area of your body being scanned. However, you'll need to remove any clothes that have metal fasteners, such as zips, hooks or buckles. In some cases, you may need to wear a gown.
T-score
Your T-score is your bone density compared with what is normally expected in a healthy young adult of your sex. Your T-score is the number of units — called standard deviations — which your bone density is above or below the average.
| T-score | What your score means |
| -1 and above | Your bone density is considered normal. |
| Between -1 and -2.5 | Your score is a sign of osteopenia, a condition in which bone density is below normal and may lead to osteoporosis. |
| -2.5 and below | Your bone density indicates you likely have osteoporosis. |
WHOLE BODY FAT ANALYSIS
DEXA for whole body fat analysis is based on a three-compartment model that divides the body into total body mineral, fat-free soft (lean) mass, and fat tissue mass.
DEXA uses a whole body scanner that has two low-dose x-rays at different sources that read bone and soft tissue mass simultaneously The scanner passes across a person's reclining body with data collected at 0.5 cm intervals.
A scan takes between 10-20 minutes. It is safe and non-invasive with little burden to the individual, although a person must lie still throughout the procedure.
DEXA is the new gold standard because it provides a higher degree of precision in only one measurement and has the ability to show exactly where fat is distributed throughout the body.
It is very reliable and its results extremely repeatable; in addition, the method is safe and presents little burden to the subject.
