DEXA Reports Whipps Cross
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| The Whipps Cross Imaging service is in the process of adding an auto-report to all backdated DEXA scans with a standard text. This is in line with IR(ME)R requirements and these are generated using a standard template text. You may therefore receive reports for patients scans that have occurred up to 3 years ago. Please note there is no further action required by your team. Any formal reports issued will be transmitted via the following methods: – Paper requests – via post. – Electronic requests – via keystone electronically. We are no longer in a position to formally report all DEXAs referred from primary care and this has been the situation for the last 3yrs. DEXA is an aid to predicting fracture risk in at risk populations. To best determine who benefits from treatment you can use the 10yr risk for a major fracture at the bottom of the report and if that figure is above 20% (or the 10yr risk for hip fracture is above 3.5%) then most guidelines would offer bone protection with an anti-resorptive agent at or above 70yrs of age for at least 5yrs. You should assess response to this treatment by repeat DEXA after 3yrs of treatment. Patients over 75yrs with vertebral fracture on X-ray or CT/MRI should be similarly treated. Under 70yrs the fracture risk is best determined with or without T scores using FRAX guidelines that are simple to use. Individual advise is best obtained using the Advice & Guidance pathway for Rheumatology on this site. |