How to Measure a Z Score in a Dexa Scan
A dexa scan is a medical scan doctors use on people who have, or are at risk for, osteoporosis and osteopenia. It measures one’s bone mineral density and compares it to certain standards. The “T score” compares your dexa results to the average 30-year-old -- the age when bone density is at its best. The “Z score” compares your dexa results to the average person in your age group. Once the doctor completes the scan, measuring and interpreting the “Z score” just requires finding the right line of data.
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Instructions
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Go to the page containing your bare data. Though it depends on the hospital, most dexa reports will have an introductory page or two before they actually show the results. It will appear in a chart.
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Find the third column from the left. This shows the “Z score” in different parts of your body. It appears after your BMD -- or bone mineral density -- and “T score.”
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Interpret the results. Scores between -1 and -2.5 indicate osteopenia -- a thin-bone condition that can often lead to osteoporosis. Any number less than -2.5 indicates osteoporosis. (Note the negative sign; -3 is less than -2.5.) The lower the number, the more severe the disease.
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