Bone density measurement—also known in medical terms as densitometry or osteodensitometry—is a modern, painless radiological procedure. Using an extremely low dose of X-ray radiation, we measure the mineral salt content of your bones.
The principle behind it is simple: the denser and more stable the bone mass is at the examined site, the more it weakens the X-ray beams. This precise measurement provides clear insight into your overall bone health.
A bone density scan allows us to detect the gradual loss of calcium in your skeleton at an early stage—long before painful fractures occur. This examination is crucial for diagnosing two main stages:
Osteopenia: The early stage, where bone density is already reduced but has not yet reached a critical level.
Osteoporosis: The advanced stage (bone thinning/bone loss), where the risk of fractures is significantly increased.
The examination is entirely straightforward, requires no special preparation, and takes only a few minutes. Typically, we measure bone density at the sites that bear the most stress in daily life:
Lumbar spine
Hips and femoral necks (proximal femurs)
In specific cases: the forearms (radius) or a full-body scan.
A modern bone density scan offers far more than just a simple measurement of bone mass. For a highly reliable diagnosis, we combine two crucial factors:
Based on all these parameters and a targeted medical questionnaire, we determine your exact risk of sustaining a major osteoporotic fracture or a hip fracture over the next 10 years. This serves as the critical foundation for deciding whether and which treatment is best suited for you.
No. During the scan, you will lie comfortably on a padded table. The device moves over you without ever touching you.
The radiation exposure is extremely low. It is comparable to the natural background radiation you are exposed to during a short commercial flight.
