Bone density and body composition testing (DEXA)

Loss of bone density, which gradually leads to osteoporosis, is a growing problem affecting millions of people worldwide. Bones become fragile and weak, so fractures can occur without any preceding injury.

Weight disorders, the accumulation of fat and its uneven distribution across the body may be caused not only by our eating habits but also by metabolic diseases, which increasingly affect people today.

Modern bone densitometers allow us, through quick and simple examinations, to detect osteoporosis, study body composition and predict the risk of developing the disease long before it appears.

At the Breast & Osteoporosis Diagnosis Center, examinations are performed with the state-of-the-art Horizon W system by the American manufacturer Hologic, using the most advanced method of measuring bone density: dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The system can perform measurements in multiple positions, in adults and children, with the lowest radiation dose of any system and at the highest speed.

What the system offers

Fracture risk assessment

Built-in fracture risk protocols use the FRAX tool, which combines risk factors (age, family and personal history, etc.) to calculate the probability of a fracture over the next ten years.

Bone microarchitecture – TBS (Trabecular Bone Score)

Assesses the microarchitecture of the trabecular bone of the vertebrae and, now, of the hips as well. It provides information on the connectivity of the bone trabeculae, a critical factor in calculating fracture risk.

Prosthetic Hip protocol

An orthopedic protocol for assessing how well an implant is being accepted, with metal prostheses excluded from the analysis.

Whole-body fat and lean mass measurement (Advanced Body Composition)

• Separate results for each region of the body, for women and men, with color coding of the fat areas.
• Separation of subcutaneous and visceral fat (Visceral Adipose Tissue Assessment), for a clearer assessment of metabolic conditions (obesity, thyroid disorders).
• Lean mass measurement for the assessment of sarcopenia.
• Body measurements for athletes (body mass index, bone and muscle mass), key factors in their fitness and performance.

Pediatric protocol

Dedicated pediatric reference databases, with the lowest radiation dose, for measurements of:

• the hip
• the lumbar spine
• the wrist
• the whole body

Lateral spine morphometry – VA (Vertebral Assessment) protocol

A digital X-ray of 12 vertebrae of the spine in 15 seconds, at less than 1% of the dose of a conventional X-ray. The built-in morphometry protocol checks for vertebral collapse and/or fusion.