What are the benefits vs. risks?

Benefits

• DEXA bone densitometry is a simple, quick and noninvasive procedure.
• No anesthesia is required.
• The amount of radiation used is extremely small—less than one-tenth the dose of a standard chest x-ray, and less than a day's exposure to natural radiation.
• DEXA bone density testing is the most accurate method available for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and is also considered an accurate estimator of fracture risk.
• DEXA equipment is widely available making DEXA bone densitometry testing convenient for patients and physicians alike.
• No radiation remains in a patient's body after an x-ray examination.
• X-rays usually have no side effects in the typical diagnostic range for this exam.

Risks

• There is always a slight chance of cancer from excessive exposure to radiation. However, the benefit of an accurate diagnosis far outweighs the risk.
• Women should always inform their physician or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. See the Safety page for more information about pregnancy and x-rays.
• The effective radiation dose for this procedure varies. See the Safety page for more information about radiation dose.
• No complications are expected with the DEXA procedure.

  A Word About Minimizing Radiation Exposure

  Special care is taken during x-ray examinations to use the lowest radiation dose possible while producing the best images for evaluation. National and international radiology protection organizations continually review and update the technique standards used by radiology professionals.

  Modern x-ray systems have very controlled x-ray beams and dose control methods to minimize stray (scatter) radiation. This ensures that those parts of a patient's body not being imaged receive minimal radiation exposure.