DEXA Bone Density Scan

A DEXA bone scan, also called a bone density scan, is a type of low-dose X-ray test that measures how much calcium and other minerals are in your bones. These measurements help show how strong or thin your bones are. As we age or develop certain medical conditions, bones can lose mineral content and become weaker. A DEXA bone density scan provides a safe and straightforward way to check for this change.

Offered by San Ramon Regional Medical Center, a DEXA scan procedure is a simple, noninvasive test used for an osteopenia or osteoporosis screening as a fracture risk assessment tool. It focuses on the lower spine and hips, where bone loss often appears first and uses a very small amount of radiation similar to a standard X-ray. The information it provides helps your healthcare provider understand your bone health and guide your care.

Bone density plays a key role in maintaining strength and stability at every age. As bones lose mineral content over time, they become more fragile often without any noticeable symptoms. Osteoporosis is commonly called a “silent” disease because there are typically no signs until a fracture occurs.

A decrease in bone mineral density weakens the skeleton and raises the risk of fractures, especially in areas like the hip, spine and wrist. Understanding your bone density helps identify these changes early, so steps can be taken to maintain bone strength and prevent injury.

A DEXA scan may be recommended when your healthcare provider needs to check for bone loss or understand your risk for fractures. A DEXA scan may often be advised for:

  • Adults over 50 due to declining bone mass due to age
  • People with certain medical conditions
    • Chronic kidney disease
    • Diabetes
    • Endocrine diseases
    • Gastrointestinal disease
    • Hyperparathyroidism
    • Lung disease
    • Prostate cancer
    • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Long-term users of steroid or corticosteroids
  • Individuals with a family history of osteoporosis
  • People who have experienced a prior fracture

Before the Scan

  1. You may be asked to stop taking calcium supplements for 24–48 hours.
  2. Wear loose, comfortable clothing without metal parts such as zippers, belts or buttons.
  3. Remove jewelry, eyeglasses or any metal objects that could interfere with imaging.
  4. Tell your healthcare provider or technologist if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
  5. Let your provider know if you recently had a barium exam, CT contrast study or radioisotope scan, as you may need to wait before having a DEXA scan.

During the Scan

  1. You will lie on a padded table while the technologist positions your body.
  2. For spine imaging, your legs may rest on a padded box.
  3. For hip imaging, your foot may be placed in a device to gently rotate the hip inward.
  4. A scanning arm will pass over the area being checked while another component sits beneath you.
  5. You will need to lie still and may be asked to briefly hold your breath to keep the images clear.
  6. For peripheral DEXA scans (wrist, hand, forearm or foot), the limb is placed into a small device designed for imaging.

After the Scan

  1. The exam typically lasts about 10–30 minutes, depending on the equipment used.
  2. You may resume your normal activities right away.
  3. Your healthcare provider will review your DEXA scan results, including your T-score and Z-score, and discuss what they mean for your bone health.

Often used for bone fracture risk assessment, a DEXA scan shows how much calcium and other minerals are in your bones. This measurement reflects your bone density, which helps indicate how strong or thin your bones may be. The scan focuses on areas where bone loss often appears first, such as the lower spine, hips or sometimes the wrist, hand, forearm or foot.

The results help identify conditions like osteopenia and osteoporosis, both of which make bones more likely to break. A DEXA scan can also reveal whether your bone density is improving, staying the same or getting lower over time. In addition, the scan provides two key numbers (a T-score and a Z-score) which compare your bone density to expected values for your age, sex and other factors.

A standard DEXA scan is mainly used to measure bone density. Its purpose is to check how strong or thin your bones are, not to diagnose fractures. However, some centers use an additional test called Vertebral Fracture Assessment (VFA) on the same DEXA machine. VFA is a low-dose X-ray of the spine that helps screen for vertebral fractures in certain patients. If there are concerns about an existing fracture, your provider may consider VFA or other imaging tests based on your situation.

Our radiologists and licensed technologists at San Ramon Regional Medical Center provide a comfortable experience and reliable diagnostic imaging services to help guide your care. We also offer:

  • Computed Tomography (CT)
  • 3T MRI (Pleasanton Diagnostic Imaging)
  • 3D Mammograms
  • Ultrasound guided and Stereotactic breast biopsies
  • Ultrasounds
  • X-rays
  • Bone density/DEXA
  • Fluoroscopy: UGI, SBFT, esophagram/barium swallow
  • Arthrograms
  • Pediatric imaging
  • Interventional radiology
  • Calcium scoring (would be nice to highlight this)
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Nuclear Medicine DaTscan to evaluate for Parkinsons and for Lewy body dementia

San Ramon Regional Medical Center is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and certified by the California Department of Public Health, while Pleasanton Diagnostic Imaging is fully accredited by the American College of Radiology and also certified by the California Department of Public Health.

Schedule Your Bone Density Scan

Take a proactive step toward protecting your bone health. If your healthcare provider has given you a doctor’s order, you can schedule your DEXA scan in San Ramon and, when available, request a same-day appointment.

Diagnostic Imaging Services

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