DEXA Scan Explained: T-Score, Z-Score & Bone Health (Video)

Transcript

Is a T-score of minus two point five osteoporosis?

Is a T-score of minus two point five osteoporosis?

DEXA Scan Basics

Ever wonder what those T-score and Z-score numbers really mean on a bone scan?

What a DEXA Measures

A DEXA scan measures bone mineral density, mainly at your lower spine and hip, using two very weak X-ray beams that pass through your body. The denser the bone, the more it blocks the beams, giving a g per square centimetre reading.

Osteoporosis cutoff

If your T-score is minus two point five or lower, doctors call it osteoporosis, meaning the bone is thin enough to fracture from a mild fall.

Reading Your Report

Your report lists each site, lumbar spine, femoral neck, total hip, showing raw density, a T-score compared to a healthy thirty-year-old, and a Z-score compared to peers your age. Doctors usually focus on the lowest T-score to decide if you’re in the osteopenia or osteoporosis range.

Osteopenia vs Osteoporosis

Osteopenia isn’t a disease; it’s a zone where bones are thinner than a young adult’s but not yet at osteoporosis level. Osteoporosis means the bone is so thin it can break from a slip or stumble. Your fracture risk, not just the number, guides treatment.

Who’s At Risk

Everyone thinks only thin, old women get osteoporosis, but men over fifty are also at risk, and younger folks on long steroids, heavy smoking, or low calcium can develop thin bones too. It’s not just age.

Preparing for Your Scan

To get the best DEXA results, skip any calcium supplements the morning of the scan unless your doctor says otherwise, wear loose, metal-free clothing, no zippers or belts near the hips, and let the tech know about any implants or pregnancy.

The One Urgent Sign

If you feel sudden sharp back pain after a minor fall, or sudden hip or groin pain that makes standing hard, or new numbness, weakness, or loss of bladder control, get medical help right away, these can signal a vertebral compression fracture.

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Read the full guide

Read the complete guide on thecareonline.com. This is general information, not medical advice.