Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan of a 68 year old female patient's lumbar spine (lower spine), with accompanying report. The scan is used

---

Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan of a 68 year old female patient's lumbar spine (lower spine), with accompanying report. The scan is used to assess a patient's bone mineral density (BMD). DEXA scans are often used after menopause (cessation of menstruation), as osteoporosis (brittle bone disease) becomes more likely. A computerized report is generated, which compares the density of the patient's bones to that of the average for her age (a result known as the Z-score) as well as to that of an average woman at peak bone density (the T-score, graph at bottom left). The results here indicate that the patient is at a high risk of osteoporosis.

---

Size: 3661px × 4931px
Photo credit: © DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -ray, -score, 68, abnormal, absorptiometry, ageing, aging, bmd, bone, bones, brittle, condition, decline, densitometry, density, deterioration, dexa, diagnosis, diagnostic, disease, disorder, dual, energy, female, lumbar, medical, medicine, menopausal, menopause, mineral, osteology, osteoporosis, post, radiography, report, risk, scan, senior, sixties, spine, unhealthy, woman, xray