DEXA scan (bone density scan)

Having a DEXA scan

Before the scan

You do not need to do anything special to prepare for a DEXA scan. You can eat, drink and take your medicines as normal.

You will be fully clothed for the scan. This might be in your own clothes or in a hospital gown.

On the day of the scan try to wear something that you can lie down in comfortably. Choose something that you can easily get on and off in case you need to change into a hospital gown.

Avoid any clothes with metal on them. Such as zips, hooks or buckles. You will have to take these off for the scan.

As with any medical appointment, things do not always run on time. So it is a good idea to take a book, phone or something else to pass the time if you have to wait. You could also take a bottle of water and a snack.

Having the scan

Your scan will be done by a specialist called a radiographer. They will help you get ready for the scan. They might then go behind a screen or window while the scan is done.

You will lie on your back on an X-ray table. A block might be used to help get your legs in the right position. A large scanning arm will move slowly over your body. It will not touch you and you will not be able to feel anything from the scan.

The scan usually looks at your hips and the bottom of your back. In some cases it might look at your lower arm.

As the scanning arm moves, a low dose of X-rays is passed through your body. Some of these will be absorbed by things like fat and bone. The scanning arm will detect X-rays that are not absorbed. The data it collects can be used to make a picture of the scanned area.

A DEXA scan usually takes about 10 to 20 minutes.

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Understanding your results

Your medical team will compare your DEXA scan results to the results of a young, healthy adult. The difference between the two is known as the T score.

You might see this written as a number, followed by the letters SD. SD stands for standard deviation.

The young healthy adult would score 0 on a DEXA test. If your bones are less dense than this, your T score will be a negative number. The weaker your bones are, the bigger the negative number will be.

The World Health Organisation classifies a T score above -1 as normal. A T score between -1 and -2.5 is reduced bone mineral density, or osteopenia. And a T score below -2.5 is defined as osteoporosis.

Your scan results might also be used to calculate a FRAX index. This is a calculation that looks at lots of risk factors including:

• Your age
• If you are male or female
• If you take steroid medicines
• If you smoke
• If either of your parents suffered a hip fracture

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What happens next?

If your results are normal, but you have risk factors that put you at higher risk of osteoporosis, then you might be asked to come back for another scan in about 3 years.

If your results find that you have reduced bone density or osteoporosis you could be at a higher risk of bone fractures. This can be very worrying, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk.

Taking regular exercise and making sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D can help your bones. But it is important to talk to your liver medical team before you try any supplements. You might also be offered medicine to help your bones. This is usually tablets. But not everyone with a liver condition can have this medicine. So it is important to work with your medical team to find the best options for you.

You can find out more about osteoporosis in people with cirrhosis here.

This includes information on symptoms, treatment and living with osteoporosis. As well as links to exercises that can help your bones.

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Support for you

The British Liver Trust offers a range of support for people with a liver condition and those closest to them. This includes support groups and an online forum. Support for you.

You can also call or email our helpline. Our friendly team of specialist liver nurses cannot give you a diagnosis or interpret test results. But they can answer questions, offer support, or just listen.

Call the helpline on 0800 652 7330 or find out more here.

We also have lots of information about living with a liver condition:

• Liver blood tests (LFT)
• Tests for liver conditions
• Take our free online screener
• Liver conditions A to Z
• Useful words glossary
• Living with a liver condition
• Eating, drinking and keeping active
• Mental health

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Special thanks

We would like to thank the patients and doctors who helped up to create this information. Including Professor Stephen Ryder, consultant hepatologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS trust.

Published: August 2025

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