It is not necessary to complete a questionaire for repeat scans but when you attend, you will be asked if your risk profile has altered since your previous scan (eg new medications, recent fracture etc). Repeat scans are generally not performed any more frequently than every 24 months. In certain circumstances the interval may be shorter if there is evidence that you are experiencing accelerated bone loss (ie losing bone faster than one would predict on the basis of age at a given point in time). The decision to perform an early repeat scan is generally taken by the Consultant in charge of the DEXA Unit but this is an infrequent occurrence. Repeat scans are generally booked by the patient’s general practitioner but may be ordered by the DEXA Unit if the previous scan indicates that a repeat scan is merited.
It is important that repeat scans are carried out within the same DEXA Unit and within our service we attempt to rescan patients on the same machine and make every effort to ensure that scans are comparable and therefore meaningful in relation to determining the effect of an intervention or accurately determining the rate at which bone mineral density is changing. It is essential that repeat scans are carried out in this way.
If your DEXA scan or clinical history suggests that there may be other conditions underlying your osteoporosis eg vitamin D deficiency, coeliac disease, medicines, haematological conditions, you may need to be referred by your doctor to the specialist Bone Health Service for specific investigations and treatments. This referral is usually to Prof Lyons or Ms Caroline Ryan Clinical Nurse Specialist in Bone Health.