Bone density scan. Results from a DEXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan of a middle-aged woman's skeleton. DEXA scans are used to measure bone

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Bone density scan. Results from a DEXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan of a middle-aged woman's skeleton. DEXA scans are used to measure bone density. They are most often used to asses the risk of developing, or to diagnose, osteoporosis (brittle bone disease). The graph shows that this patient's bone mineral density (BMD) result is above normal (blue band). The BMD is also compared to that of a young adult to give a T score, and to that of someone of the same age to give a Z score. The lower these scores are, the lower the comparable bone density. A T score of minus or lower is classed as osteoporosis. Scores between minus 1 and minus are osteopenia, a below normal bone density.

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Size: 4016px × 5248px
Photo credit: © SATURN STILLS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -ray, absorptiometry, adult, bmd, body, bone, composite, densitometry, density, dexa, diagnosis, diagnostic, dual, energy, female, graph, healthy, human, machine, medical, medicine, middle-aged, mineral, normal, osteology, osteoporosis, patient, people, person, radiography, result, results, scan, score, skeleton, text, woman, xray