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- What are bone density scans?
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- Bone scans are
measurements of the amount of bone in a particular site, usually the
lower part of the spine, the hip, the forearm or the heel. Most scanning
machines use narrow beams of x-rays but some use ultrasound instead.
- these scans are not the same as the bones scans carried out with radio-active isotopes in nuclear medicine departments.
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- What does having a scan entail?
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- It just means
sitting or lying still for a few minutes. No needles are involved. The
x-ray dose is very small, a fraction of that needed for a chest x-ray.
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- What does a bone scan tell us?
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- The amount of bone
measured by the scanner is often called 'bone density'. Bone density
varies in people - just like height and weight - but the lower the
density the higher the risk of fractures in the future. Doctors use the
scans, together with other information, to assess the likelihood of
fractures and therefore whether any treatment is needed,
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- How often should a scan be done?
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- One scan is enough
for most people to assess the overall risk of future fractures. A
second scan may be needed after one or two years if a new decision is
needed about whether to stop or start treatment. Scans every one or two
years may be needed in patients who require therapy long term.
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- Will my insurance pay for the Scan?
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- Most insurances
and Medicare will pay for a screening Bone Density Scan. If your
condition requires that you have a scan every one to two years, our
office will provide your insurance company with clinical information to
support the frequency of the scans.
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