Weill Cornell Imaging at NewYork-Presbyterian
DEXA

Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA)

Before Your Appointment During Your Appointment After Your Appointment

Overview 

DEXA, also known as DXA or bone density exam, uses a very small dose of x-rays to measure density of bones. These measurements are compared to normal values for patients of similar sex and age in order to assess whether or not there has been excessive bone loss or osteoporosis. This can predict a person’s risk of developing fractures. DEXA is also used to follow patients who are taking medication for osteoporosis in order to assess the effectiveness of the treatment(s). 

DEXA is painless and requires no special preparation. You should let your technologist know if you are pregnant. You should also inform your technologist if you have had a recent barium exam, CT exam with contrast, or a nuclear medicine exam. You should also not take any calcium supplements for 24 hours prior to the examination.

Before Your Appointment

Scheduling Your Exam 

Our Patient Access Coordinators are available to assist with scheduling your appointment from Monday through Friday 8AM to 7PM ET and Saturday and Sunday 9AM to 5PM ET. 

(212) 746-6000 

If you have seen a Weill Cornell Medicine doctor and have been referred for an imaging exam, you may receive a notification in Connect or an email from us prompting you to schedule your appointment online. 

If your provider is not affiliated with Weill Cornell Medicine but you would like to online schedule, please use the "Request an Appointment" link below. As long as you have a copy of your prescription, you will be able to online schedule your appointment with us. 

Whether you are using the computer or our Connect app on your smartphone, we are sure you will find we have made it easy for you!

Exam Forms 

By logging in to Weill Cornell Connect, eCheck-In makes it easy to save time and complete all safety forms required for your upcoming appointment. 

Exam Preparation 

Please notify our staff when scheduling and checking in for your appointment if any of the following apply to you: 

  • If there is any possibility that you are pregnant or if you are currently breastfeeding. 

  • If you need an interpreter to assist you with your native language. 

FAQ

What should I wear to my DEXA appointment?

Wearing the right clothing may eliminate the need for you to change into a gown prior to your exam. 

  • Wear loungewear, pajamas, or loose-fitting cotton or linen clothing without metal embellishment. Metal can affect the quality of the images. 

  • Do not wear clothing or undergarments with metal fasteners, zippers, hooks, under wires or other metal components. 

  • Please leave items such as watches and jewelry at home. 

What should I bring with me on the day of my DEXA appointment?

  • If your prescription was given to you, upload it electronically here or bring it to you at the time of your appointment. 
  • Your insurance information. 
  • A list of your current medications. 

What can I expect on the day of my DEXA appointment?

Patient verification is an important part of your safety and you will be asked to verify your identification and your exam several times during your appointment. Our check-in staff will review your completed registration forms with you.

For many exams you will not have to change into a gown unless you are wearing something that contains metal (see guidelines above).  Some exams do require that you are in a gown. You will be asked to remove and place your electronic devices, wallet, credit cards, metro card, watch, jewelry, belt, hairpins, eyeglasses, hearing aid, or any removable dental pieces into the provided lockers.

During Your Appointment

How is DEXA Performed?

  • You will be positioned on a table and very low-dose x-rays taken of specific regions of your body. 

  • The test uses x-rays of different energies to calculate the density of your bones, typically of both the hip and the spine. 

  • Upon completion, the technologist will escort you outside of the scanning room where you will retrieve your personal belongings and proceed to check-out.

After Your Appointment

Aftercare

  • If you received IV or oral contrast during your exam, you will be instructed to drink 10 glasses of fluids within 24 hours to help flush the contrast out of your system. 
  • You may resume all regular activity unless otherwise directed by your physician.
  • While uncommon, if you experience any symptoms of an allergic reaction, please contact us at (646) 962-7057. 

Imaging Review

Once the technologist has taken your images, a radiologist will review the images and write a detailed report. Our radiologists specialize in imaging for specific areas of the body, ensuring you receive the highest-quality, expert interpretation every time.
Our specialties include:

  • Abdominal
  • Breast 
  • Cardiothoracic (Heart and Chest)
  • Molecular 
  • Musculoskeletal 
  • Neuroradiology (Brain, Head, Neck and Spine) 
  • Pediatrics 

Receiving Your Results

Your report will be automatically share with you and your referring provider within 24-48 hours. You can view your images and reports through Connect. Use this guide to get started.

Sharing Your Results

All imaging exams performed at Weill Cornell Imaging will be available to you in Connect. If you'd like to keep other members of your care team informed, you can easily share your results with any additional providers. 

For other medical records requests, visit our Medical Records page.

Understanding Your Results   

Please contact your referring provider to discuss your results. They will help explain your imaging report and answer any questions you may have. 

If you or your provider have additional questions, our Reading Room Coordinators (RRC) will help connect you with a radiologist.  

For more information or to contact a RRC, visit this link.

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Weill Cornell Imaging at NewYork-Presbyterian

(212) 746-6000