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Dexa Scan Interpretation
The shape of the human body is defined by the skeletal system. This collection of bones gives the body a defined shape and allows the body to hold its own weight and maintain some amount of structural rigidity. There are various joints that allow the body to be flexible where one set of bones connects to another. The bones are made up of hard material that is supposed to withstand the stresses of normal life. In case of an injury, it is possible for the bone to crack or completely fracture. There are many medical conditions that can cause the density of the minerals in the bone to be reduced. This reduction in bone density could cause serious health problems because it makes the patient vulnerable to cracked or fractured bones. This means that living a normal life is not entirely possible because even a mild impact could cause bone breakage. In order to understand the bone density of a patient, a dexa scan is used. The dexa scan is a Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry test. It uses two different x-ray beams to determine the density of the bones. One of the beams is weaker than the other, making it possible for the machine to understand the rate at which the x-ray energy is being absorbed in the bones. The results of such a test are presented in the form of a numerical score. Based on the ranges for normal or abnormal, the results are then interpreted to give a full understanding of the nature and intensity of the problem affecting the patient. There are two types of scores for the dexa scan. The T-score uses the person’s gender as a factor for consideration. Men and women have different bone densities due to the differences in their body structure. The T-score thus uses this difference to plot the performance of a patient’s bones in a dexa scan test. Based on the results it could be stated that the bones are normal, mildly weak or very weak. The other type of dexa scan test score is the Z-score. This is more thorough as it uses gender considerations alongside considerations based on age, ethnicity and the weight of the individual. All these factors are known to affect the results of a dexa scan score and therefore need to be considered for the score to be accurate and relevant to the concerned person.
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