DEXA

Our DEXA Screening is the Best Test Available for Early Osteoporosis Detection

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, approximately 55 percent of people age 50 and older in the United States have osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease in which the body’s gradual loss of calcium makes the bones become thinner, more fragile, and increasingly susceptible to fractures.

DEXA (Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry), available throughout the Morton Plant Mease Health Care network of imaging centers, is the most up-to-date and accurate screening available for detecting the early stages of bone loss associated with osteoporosis or low bone mass. Also used to track bone mineral density (BMD) during the treatment of osteoporosis, DEXA is replacing older methods such as dual photon absorptiometry (DPA).

Make No Bones about the Benefits of DEXA

Measuring BMD is recommended for women older than age 65 and for women ages 60 to 65 who have risk factors for osteoporosis for several reasons. It can:

• Detect osteoporosis before a fracture occurs
• Predict your chances of fracturing in the future
• Determine the rate of bone loss and/or monitor the effects of treatment if it is conducted at regular intervals
• Is a painless procedure with minimal radiation exposure

Osteoporosis is both treatable and preventable. Early diagnosis, treatment, and the use of bone density testing such as DEXA available at Morton Plant Mease Health Care imaging centers can greatly lower the risk of fractures before they occur enabling you to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.