Will DEXA scan show suspicious areas?

Alloway

Had my second DEXA scan last week and will get the results in the next week or 2. I know I have Osteopaenia but I'm concerned about the ongoing pain in my back and now ribs. Last year I had a bone scan in April and a MRI in October and both were clear despite the fact that I had the lower back pain then. The rib pain is mastectomy side but I did have Rads and am on Arimidex so both could be blamed.

I am still concerned about both pains and I wondered if the DEXA scan would highlight anything that needed further investigation or just says yes/no to Osteopaenia/Osteoporosis?

hollyann

Unfortunately no...DEXA is only checking for bone loss....You would need a bone scan to check for mets to your bones...This is different than a DEXA scan.....A bone scan uses radioactive isotopes which will attach to any mets.....It will also show any arthritis in the joints....I had one and it showed arthritis in the tropisphoid bone in my hands (those are the little bones at your wrist straight down from your pinkies)......As far as the rib pain goes I had that for months after my bilat and TRAM.....I had x rays and MRI and bone scans all clear except for arthritis in hips and lower spine and all joints even my feet have arthritis....Good luck to you..