Densitometric techniques have evolved over last century from initial use of dental radiographs of mandible by dentists to quantitative morphometry using plain radiographs, ultrasonographybased methods, dual energy absorptiometry, and finally ct scan based modalities like peripheral quantitative computed tomography qct and high resolution qct. However, dxa is highly dependent on the quality of scan acquisition, analysis, and interpretation. A guide to dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa scanning of the axial skeleton by dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa is the gold standard in australia for the measurement of bone mineral density bmd. The purpose of this manual is to describe the dxa body composition and bone mineral density. A bone density scan is a quick and painless procedure that involves lying on your back on an xray table so an area of your body can be scanned. Dxa crash course for technologists and clinicians osteoporosis. The central focus of the book is the presentation of what is normal and what is problematic when using dxa. Dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa, previously dexa is a means of measuring bone mineral density bmd using spectral imaging. Each dxa technologist has access to the manufacturers manual of technical standards. Errors in demographic information, improper patient positioning, incorrect scan analysis, and mistakes in interpretation can all lead to a wrong clinical decision or action.
Trying to interpret my dxa scan report osteoporosis inspire. Bonedensitytutor bone density training online dxa scan. As a result, dxa scans are now being used for body composition analysis of fat, bone and muscle. It is commonly used to diagnose osteoporosis, to assess an individuals risk for developing osteoporotic. The amount of energy absorbed by the bones indicates bone density. Thus, the who diagnostic criteria for osteoporosis define osteoporosis in term s of a tscore below i 2. But youll need to remove any clothes that have metal fasteners, such as. It is called dxa total body composition analysis dxatbca. The course emphasizes technical excellence in the performance, analysis, and troubleshooting of bone densitometry scans. There are significant limitations of both of these latter two methods. Dxa, which stands for dualxray absorptiometry, is a low radiation xray capable of detecting very small percentages of bone loss. Thirty years of age is generally considered where bmd is at its highest but. A dxa scan measures your bone mineral density bmd and body mass index bmi.
Bone density scanning, also called dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa or bone densitometry, is an enhanced form of xray technology that is used to measure bone loss. A practical approach to interpretation of dualenergy x. The goldstandard method to assess bmd is dual xray absorptiometry dxa. Bone densitometry with dual energy xray absorptiometry perspective axial dxa of thelumbar spine and hip is at present. Anatomically abnormal vertebrae may be excluded from analysis if. Dxa is a diagnostic tool for osteoporosis or osteopenia, enabling doctors to determine the extent of bone loss for clinical decision making. This number compares the individuals t score with the average bone mineral density of the average of 30 year olds of the same gender and raceethnicity. Interpreting a dxa scan in clinical practice intechopen. The frax results are shown on the dxa printout just below the bmd results. It is commonly used to diagnose osteoporosis, to assess an. However, as per dxaguru unless there is visual evidence of some focal structural abnormality like arthritic or sclerotic changes to false ly elevate a vertebral body density, the most accurate and precise value is the total bmd of all four vertebrae.
A practical approach to interpretation of dualenergy xray. Dxa measurements can also be used to provide information on early gender and ethnic changes in the rate of bone accretion and to determine the. However, dxa is highly dependent on the quality of. Dxa allows accurate diagnosis of osteoporosis, estimation of fracture risk and monitoring of patients undergoing treatment. Its a simple and quick noninvasive procedure that provides a quantitative measure of your body composition.
Bone density scan dexa scan how it is performed nhs. Bone density scans are often used to diagnose or assess your risk of osteoporosis, a health condition that weakens bones and makes them more likely to break. When reading a dxa scan, locate the section heading, t score. Dualenergy xray absorptiometry in the diagnosis of. By combining data, dxa can accurately measure bone within soft. Aug 21, 2004 measurement of bone mineral density bmd with central dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa is the current gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis and for monitoring patients. Jun 23, 2015 in canada my full report showed the breakdown of each l1 to l4 as well as the total for l1l4 on the short report. Submitted by medical health test team on october 19, 2012. Bone density scans are often used to diagnose or assess your risk of osteoporosis, a health condition that weakens bones and makes them more likely to break as well as being quick and painless, a bone density scan is more effective than normal. When adding a dxa scanner with the same technology manufacturer and model of the. Fundamentals and pitfalls of bone densitometry using dual. Most clinicians who interpret dxa scans are aware that bmd. The defining characteristic of osteoporosis is reduced bone mineral density as identified by dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa.
Two xray beams, each with different levels of energy, are directed at your bones. A dexa scan is a technique that is used to measure the density of bone mineral. Dualenergy absorptiometry dexa is the most accurate method for body composition analysis trusted by research and elite sports labs. Interpreting a dxa scan in clinical practice 5 worldwide. Depending on specific factors, related to the clinical status of the patient or technical aspects of the test itself, interpretation of a dxa examination ranges from straightforward to complicated. Jan 28, 20 the primary measure for reading a dxa scan when reading a dxa scan, locate the section heading, t score. Dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa 1 is a clinically proven, accurate, and reproducible method of measuring bone mineral density bmd in the lumbar spine, proximal femur, forearm, and whole body 27. Dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa is the gold standard for measuring bone mineral density bmd, making the diagnosis of osteoporosis, and for monitoring changes in bmd over time. Oct 19, 2012 a dexa scan is a technique that is used to measure the density of bone mineral. It presents reallife case histories, their corresponding dxa images, the problems encountered and their. This is one of the most accurate tests available today and is presently the most widely used technique that is used to measure bone density. The dxa scan is the most accurate and precise body fat test available.
The quality control qc program at a dxa facility should include. Over the last 10 years the interpretation of dxa scans has been guided by the. Densitometric techniques have evolved over last century from initial use of dental radiographs of mandible by dentists to quantitative morphometry using plain radiographs, ultrasonographybased methods, dual energy absorptiometry, and finally ct scanbased modalities like peripheral quantitative computed tomography qct and high resolution qct. However, by combining bmd data with age and other appropriately chosen risk. Data are mean standard deviation for age, height, and weight. Dxa body composition analysis course find a course this live course focuses on the increase of knowledge and competence of clinicians and other healthcare professionals in order to successfully use dxa body composition analysis in the management of obesity, geriatric sarcopenia and other low muscle mass states, general health and pediatric. This will produce knobs that can merge with the trochanter and throw off the.
Dxa interpretation z score number of standard deviations of the subject from the mean of the age, sex and weight matched normal range z dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa, previously dexa is a means of measuring bone mineral density bmd using spectral imaging. Understanding the results of your dxa test international. It is a safe and noninvasive method of testing which exposes you to less radiation than a mammogram. Dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa is recognized as the reference method to measure bone mineral density bmd with acceptable accuracy errors and good precision and reproducibility. A bodyspec dxa scan also known as a dexa scan is a simple, 10minute body fat test that takes a comprehensive snapshot of your exact breakdown of bone, fat tissue, and muscle mass. The dxa scan is a safe method used to measure bone density how solid your bones are. However, when dxa studies are performed incorrectly, it can lead to major mistakes in diagnosis and therapy.
Dexa is fdaapproved and quantifies your lean, fat, and bone mass to identify osteoporosis, and visceral fat which. The column marked t score shows how your bone mineral density compares with women in their thirties, the peak bone density years. Measurement of bone mineral density bmd with central dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa is the current gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis and for monitoring patients. Dxa scan bone density genlife regenerative medicine.
Trying to interpret my dxa scan report osteoporosis. As well as being quick and painless, a bone density scan is. Please select the ethnicity that best describes you patient name. For age and sex, using epi info software centers for disease control and prevention, 2000, reference data. Sample hologic body composition dxa scan report pages. Unlike ct whole body scans which have a significant amount of radiation, dxa dual energy xray absorptiometry whole body scans have a minimal amount of radiation, even much less than xrays.
A dexa scan dxa is the most reliable way to measure body fat, bone, and lean muscle throughout your body. Dxa measures the bone density at your spine and hip. It shows how much higher or lower your bone density is than that of a healthy 30yearold, the age when bones are at their. Simple to do and significantly more precise than other methods including bmi, inbody, bodpod, and hydrostatic weighing. Jul 09, 2012 densitometric techniques have evolved over last century from initial use of dental radiographs of mandible by dentists to quantitative morphometry using plain radiographs, ultrasonographybased methods, dual energy absorptiometry, and finally ct scan based modalities like peripheral quantitative computed tomography qct and high resolution qct. This practical, easytoread text captures many of the common challenges of dxa interpretation that clinicians often encounter. It is quick, noninvasive and is the most accurate method available for the diagnosis. Dxa scan results for the results of your scan, youll get a tscore. A bone density scan uses low dose xrays to see how dense or strong your bones are. Interpretation of dxa presented by aprof nick pocock. This course, which focuses on quality dxa, is innovative, interactive and informative. It is painless, and requires no injections, invasive procedures, sedation, special diet or any other advance preparation. The dxa file is composed of zlib a software library used for data compression compressed video frames, with wav format for audio.
How important are bmd accuracy errors for the clinical. The preceding chapters of this text are primarily dedicated to the optimal acquisition and interpretation of dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa scans in children in clinical practice. Common errors on bone density scans and the impact on reported. The world health organization who has established dxa as the best densitometric technique for assessing bmd in postmenopausal women and based the definitions. A patient with a visible vertebral fracture on the lateral spine dxa scan with a total hip tscore of 2. You may be able to remain fully clothed, depending on the area of your body being scanned. Whole body and hip dxa bone density most operations manual. Reliability of dualenergy xray absorptiometry dxa in. Article best practice guidelines for dxa scans and reports. The course will provide standard practices and applications to raise the quality of dxa scan procedures and its impact on patient care. In canada my full report showed the breakdown of each l1 to l4 as well as the total for l1l4 on the short report. Specifically, the use of dxa in children requires the radiologist to be a clinical pathologist monitoring the technical aspects of the dxa acquisition, a statistician knowledgeable in the concepts of zscores and least significant changes, and. Doctors, with the help of a dexa scan, are able to confirm or verify the condition osteoporosis. Bone densitometry dexa, dxa bone densitometry, also called dual energy xray absorptiometry, dexa or dxa, uses a very small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body usually the lower or lumbar spine and hips to measure bone loss.
Before interpreting pediatric dxa scan, a physician should be clear that diagnosis of. Dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa scans are costeffective examinations to monitor changes in bone mineral density bmd, to assess fracture risk, and to diagnose osteopenia and osteoporosis. Dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa is rapidly becoming more accessible and popular as a technique to monitor body composition, especially in athletic population as the measurement is rapid and nonintrusive, whilst provides detailed body composition i. Starting in 1999, whole body dxa scans were administered in the nhanes mobile examination center mec.
A dxa dual energy xray absorptiometry scan, also known as a bone mineral density scan is used to measure bone loss. The role of dxa bone density scans in the diagnosis and treatment. Dxa is todays established standard for measuring bone mineral density bmd an xray radiograph is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and. Two xray beams, with different energy levels, are aimed at the patients bones. Dexa scan dxa body composition test analysis composition id.
Dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa is recognized as the reference method to measure bone mineral density bmd with acceptable accuracy errors an. The main purpose of the dxa scan image is to check if the patient is positioned correctly, something that the. Your dexa scan test results how to interpret the scores. Its the most widely used method to measure bone density how solid your bones are and to see if your bones are thinning. Dxa scan normal hip femoral neck roi trochanteric roi wards triangle total proximal femur roi. Although the currently accepted gold standard for assessing bone density is the dxa scan, an assessment of bone density can also be made by ct scan of the lumbar spine, or by heel ultrasound. It is used primarily in the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis and other disease states characterized by. Dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa procedures manual. Iscd quality bone densitometry course for dxa technologists. Bone mineral density scan bone densitometry or dxa scan. The same machine that is used to evaluate your spine and hips for brittle bones also takes a fullbody image of your fat, muscle and bone. Bone densitometry, also called dual energy xray absorptiometry, dexa or dxa, uses a very small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body usually the lower or lumbar spine and hips to measure bone loss.
The test takes less than 15 minutes and you usually. When soft tissue absorption is subtracted out, the bone mineral density bmd can be determined from the absorption of each beam by. When soft tissue absorption is subtracted out, the bone mineral density bmd can be determined from the absorption of each beam by bone. Overview of dual energy xray absorptiometry dxa will be used to assess overall skeletal changes that often occur with age by measuring bone mineral content bmc and bone mineral density bmd.
This manual focuses on dxa scan acquisition and analysis. Dxatbca can precisely monitor how much fat you lose during weight loss or how much muscle you gain during a physical activity program. Dxa dexa bone densitometry scan discussion for radiologists about how to compare and report interval changes in bone mineral density on follow up dexa scans. Quality in dualenergy xray absorptiometry scans request pdf. Manual correction of navel jewelry did not eliminate bmd inaccuracies. During a dxa exam, the patient lies fully clothed on a padded table while the system scans one or more areas of bone usually the lower spine or.