Osteoporosis is common, serious, and largely silent — the first sign is often a fracture. A bone density scan (DEXA) is the gold-standard test for measuring bone strength, diagnosing osteoporosis before a fracture occurs, and tracking the response to treatment. We perform DEXA on-site as part of our integrated Bone Health Center.
Bone Density Scanning (DEXA)
On-site bone density testing — the foundation of osteoporosis diagnosis and care.
What a DEXA Scan Measures
DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) measures the mineral density of your bones — typically at the spine and hip — using a very low dose of radiation. The scan is quick, painless, and requires no preparation. Results are reported as a T-score, which compares your bone density to a healthy young-adult reference and classifies bone health as normal, low (osteopenia), or osteoporosis. We use a GE Lunar Prodigy system with enCORE software, a clinical reference platform for densitometry.
Why DEXA in an Endocrine Practice
Bone health is endocrinology. The same hormonal and metabolic factors we manage — menopause and estrogen loss, thyroid and parathyroid disease, vitamin D, steroid use, and diabetes — directly affect the skeleton. Having DEXA on-site means the physician interpreting your scan is the same one managing the underlying cause, and can move directly from diagnosis to treatment, including the full range of modern osteoporosis therapies. Repeat scans on the same system over time give the most reliable measure of whether treatment is working.
Schedule a bone density scan
If you are postmenopausal, over 50 with risk factors, or have a condition that affects bone health, ask about DEXA. Call (858) 622-7200.