31st January 2024

Bone density scanning

Bone density scanning is not to be done routinely, as the initial management does not change if osteopenia exists or not. The key message should be that eating healthily and maintaining a healthy BMI is the key to prevent or treat osteopenia. In women, an adolescent (13-18) is underweight for 1 year, or an adult underweight for 2 years (practically, without a period for this time) or they have a history or recurrent fractures of bone pain, then a DEXA scan may be useful, with consideration of oestradiol with cyclic progesterone, or bisphosphonates in adults who have a chronic low body weight, and unrealistic to expect a full recovery to a healthy BMI.