DEXA Bone Density Scan for Osteoporosis

The GE DEXA scanner for evaluation of osteoporosis is the  latest technology and the most accurate way to assess for calcium loss and fracture risk in both adults and children.  Osteoporosis due to calcium loss is the most common cause of bone fractures, including broken hip and spine fractures.

The most common causes of calcium loss are:

• Early menopause,
• Over age 50,
• Reduced calcium intake,
• Thin and small framed,
• Drugs such as cortisone,
• Endocrine treatment for prostate cancer,
• Treatments for obesity in adults and children.

Osteoporosis is a silent, progressive disease characterized by decreased bone density and increased bone fragility, with a consequent susceptibility to fracture.

In the United States, over 28 million people are at high risk of developing osteoporosis. Up to 1.5 million fractures a year are attributable to osteoporosis. Health care expenditures related to osteoporosis are over $14 billion per year.

Women are at the greatest risk. One third of Caucasian women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis, yet nearly 80% remain undiagnosed. After menopause, a woman’s risk of suffering an osteoporotic spine or femur fracture is 30% or three times that of a man’s.

Osteoporosis is a complex, multi-factorial disease that may progress silently for decades – there may be no symptoms until fractures occur. Bone loss is the major risk factor that can be modified in mid-life to reduce fracture risk. Bone loss can be reduced by treatment, but it is difficult to restore the microarchitecture of the skeleton once bone has been lost. Early detection and intervention are crucial.

Osteoporosis used to be considered an inevitable consequence of aging. Today, with new techniques for early detection and ever-increasing treatment options, osteoporosis management can and should be a part of every doctor’s practice.

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Lexington, KY 40504
Phone 859-278-7226 or Toll Free 800-755-7441