I'm already having the full-body MRI. Why would I add a DEXA scan?

The two scans answer different questions about your bones.

• The full-body MRI shows the structure of your spine and other scanned bones: for example disc problems, a collapsed vertebra, wear and tear or a suspicious lesion. It shows what your bones look like.
• The DEXA scan measures your bone density, the amount of mineral in your bone. This needs a low-dose X-ray, which an MRI can’t replace. It gives you a T-score or Z-score, the standard measures for osteoporosis.

If you are 65 or older, or 50 or older with a higher risk of bone loss, for example after menopause, it’s worth doing both. The DEXA scan takes about 15 minutes at the same visit as your MRI.