QCT-BMD Scanning is an up to date and very accurate method of measuring the mineral content of bone and its highly predictive nature allows early detection of osteoporosis where it first occurs. Our bones are made up of an inner/soft (trabecular) bone and an outer/dense (cortical) bone, and it is loss of this trabecular bone which is amongst the earliest warning signs of osteoporosis.

QCT-BMD Scanning employs the newer 3 dimensional CT Scan imaging techniques to ensure that only trabecular bone is included in the measurement sample, thereby avoiding innaccuracies often introduced when cortical bone and its variations (osteophytes) are included. The 3D nature of the examination makes it possible to very accurately place the measurement sample by rotating the image in any dimension no matter how curved or twisted the bones may be. In this way we can also ensure that the same part of the very same bone can be found and examined again at a later date in order to assess the change in calcium density over time and treatment.

The examination itself is completely safe, painless and takes about 10 minutes, usually involving two short CT Scan x-rays, one at the mid portion of the spine and another at hip-joint level. There is no fasting or preparation for the scan and no injections are involved. Since the anatomy of the area scanned is visible on the CT computer when 3D placement of the measurement is underway, an added bonus of QCT-BMD is to enable images to be taken of any incidental pathology that may be seen in the area scanned.

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