Osteoporosis – Frequently Asked Questions

Osteoporosis is a progressive disease that reduces the strength of your bone. It results in the thinning of the bone and increases the risk of fractures.

Osteoporosis is not a disease that suddenly affects the elderly, but it is a progressive disease that often begins as a woman reaches menopause. It often progresses without symptoms for many years until bones become so fragile that even bending to pick up a newspaper can result in fractures of the spine.

In many cases, osteoporosis is not diagnosed until one or several fractures have occurred.

Our facility utilizes “Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry” (DEXA) technology which offers an extremely low x-ray dose.

The amount of radiation for a bone density scan using DEXA is only a fraction of that received from a standard chest x-ray. It is comparable to the amount received on a transcontinental flight.

No, Peninsula Diagnostic Imaging is contracted with many health insurance carriers. Our office staff is happy to answer any questions you may have.

Because we are a private outpatient center we are able to provide our services efficiently, typically at a lower cost than hospital-based centers.

A physician’s order is required in order to insure health insurance coverage for DEXA and VFA.