DEXA Scan in Singapore

Stronger Bones, Clearer Numbers

Bone density and body composition scans, covering hip, spine, body fat and muscle massBone density and body composition scans, covering hip, spine, body fat and muscle mass

From $141.70 with NETT pricing and no hidden feesFrom $141.70 with NETT pricing and no hidden fees

Results explained by a doctor, including what your T-score and Z-score meanResults explained by a doctor, including what your T-score and Z-score mean

Follow-up care at our clinic, from vitamin D testing to treatment if bone density is lowFollow-up care at our clinic, from vitamin D testing to treatment if bone density is low

Book Your DEXA Scan

Located in Orchard, Tanjong Pagar, Jurong East & Novena |
View our DEXA scan prices

Book Your DEXA Scan

Located in Orchard, Tanjong Pagar, Jurong East & Novena |
View our DEXA scan prices

Who Should Consider a DEXA Scan?

A DEXA scan is usually recommended based on your age, and sooner if you have risk factors that speed up bone loss. Bone loss has no symptoms, so most people only find out when a bone breaks.

Testing is typically suggested for:

• Postmenopausal women aged 65 and above, and men aged 70 and above
• Postmenopausal women under 65, or men aged 50 to 69, who have at least one risk factor
• Anyone who has had a fragility fracture, meaning a broken bone from a minor fall or knock

You may be advised to test earlier if you have any of the following:

• A parent or sibling diagnosed with osteoporosis, or a parent who fractured a hip
• A previous fracture as an adult
• Low body weight or a small, light frame
• Loss of height, which can point to a vertebral fracture that went unnoticed
• Long-term use of certain medications that affect bone
• A shortfall in bone-building nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D
• Smoking, heavy alcohol intake, or a largely inactive lifestyle

No age guideline applies to body composition scans. People usually book one to get a starting point before changing their training or diet, or to check that the weight they are losing is fat rather than muscle.

Bone Loss After Menopause

Oestrogen helps keep bone strong throughout adult life. When levels fall during menopause, bone breaks down faster than the body can rebuild it. Density can drop noticeably within about ten years, most often at the hip, spine and wrist.

An early menopause (periods stopping before the age of 45) may be a reason to test sooner, whether it happened naturally or after surgery to remove the ovaries (oophorectomy). Bone density is worth knowing at this stage because it can still be acted on, through calcium and vitamin D, weight-bearing and resistance exercise, and where appropriate, medication or menopausal hormone therapy.

How to Read Your DEXA Scan Results

Your DEXA scan report shows different figures depending on which scan you had. A bone densitometry report gives your bone mineral density at each site scanned, along with two scores: a T-score and a Z-score. A body composition report gives measurements in kilograms rather than scores.

T-Score

The T-score compares your bone density against the average for a healthy adult in their mid to late twenties, when bone density is at its highest. This is the score used to diagnose osteoporosis.

Z-Score

The Z-score compares your bone density against the average for people of your own age, sex and body size. It is more useful for assessing bone density in children and younger adults, whose bones are still building.

A result well below average for your age group suggests a cause other than ageing, such as a medical condition or a medication affecting bone. That normally leads to follow-up tests to identify the cause.

Body Composition Results

A body composition report lists your fat, muscle and bone both in total and region by region, along with your body fat percentage and a figure for visceral fat. There is no normal range for these numbers, so they are most useful for tracking change between scans.

Is a DEXA Scan Accurate?

A DEXA scan is widely considered the most reliable way to measure bone density, and it is usually precise enough to detect small changes between scans. Repeat scans are usually done on the same machine where possible, since readings can vary slightly between machines.

Factors such as arthritis in the spine, past spinal surgery, healed fractures and calcium deposits in the aorta can add extra density that is not bone, which may make your bone density appear higher than it actually is and hide bone loss. The hip is usually scanned alongside the spine for this reason.

Metal in clothing and recent contrast dye can also distort the image, and for body composition, hydration and whether you have just eaten may shift the numbers slightly.

Your doctor will usually take any of these into account when interpreting your scan.

How Often Should a DEXA Scan Be Repeated?

The interval between DEXA scans depends on your results and your risk, not on a fixed schedule. Bone changes slowly, so scanning too often picks up small differences from the scan itself rather than real change in your bones.

If you are on treatment for osteoporosis, repeat scans are generally advised every one to two years, and sooner if bone is being lost quickly. If you are not on treatment, the frequency depends on your fracture risk, and scans are usually spaced further apart when that risk is low. Your doctor may also recommend an earlier scan after a new fragility fracture, a medication known to affect bone, or a new diagnosis affecting bone strength.

For body composition, scans are commonly repeated every three to six months, because fat and muscle respond to training and diet far faster than bone does.

How Do I Book a DEXA Scan in Singapore?

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