Ministry Sacred Heart Hospital Installs New Bone Densitometry Unit

Recently Ministry Sacred Heart Hospital Radiology department in Tomahawk installed a Hologic DXA Bone Densitometry unit that measures bone and can detect early bone loss. According to Ministry Sacred Heart Hospital’s Chief Radiology Technologist, Sue Loka, RTM “The new Bone Densitometry unit brings the latest technology to detect Osteoporosis in both men and women.” Loka continues, “This unit safely, accurately and painlessly measures bone density.”

Osteoporosis is often called the “silent disease,” because it doesn’t produce symptoms until a fracture occurs. The bones most likely to break are the hip, spine, and forearm. In fact, 1 in 2 women and 1 in 8 men are at risk for fracture or have at least one spinal fracture and don't know it. Spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis are most often painless, greatly increasing the risk for future fractures. A woman’s risk of hip fracture alone equals her combined risk of developing breast, uterine or ovarian cancer.

The diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis begins with an objective measurement of your current bone density. Today, when doctors detect bone loss in the earliest stage, treatment is more successful. And, several drug therapies now on the market have been shown to be effective in slowing down or reversing the bone-loss process.

What is bone densitometry?

Bone densitometry, safely, accurately and painlessly measures bone density. The images are immediately available for the Radiologist review and interpretation. In this way, your doctor can provide a more thorough assessment of your bone health…quickly and conveniently.

What to expect during your exam.

During a comprehensive examination with DXA, you will lay comfortably on a padded table while the DXA unit scans two or more areas, usually the fracture-prone hip and spine. Unlike typical x-ray machines, radiation exposure during bone densitometry is extremely low. The entire process takes only minutes to complete. It involves no injections or invasive procedures.

For more information or a referral, please contact your primary care clinician. To schedule an appointment with a Ministry Medical Group clinician in Tomahawk, call 715-453-7200.