Can a DEXA scan show cancer?

Although a breast or body scan cannot detect cancer, an advanced diagnostic test called a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (or DEXA scan) can. Using sophisticated equipment, a trained technician takes images of the entire body. A computer analyzes these images and compares them to a database of healthy people’s results. Areas that show a discrepancy may indicate the presence of disease.

Can a DEXA scan detect cancer?

A DEXA scan can detect a tumor that is a few millimeters thick, meaning that it is difficult to find without an advanced imaging technique. A good DXA scan takes less than an hour, and it can show if a lump is present. This test does not differentiate between benign and cancerous growths, but it can rule out any serious health problems that could be causing symptoms.

Can a DEXA scan show breast cancer?

While your doctor may not recommend a routine DXA scan for breast cancer detection, women who have risk factors for the disease or other findings that raise the question of breast cancer may want to consider this scan. The test can detect areas of dense tissue that show up as white on a mammogram, which may indicate cancer. However, this test is not a substitute for mammograms, and it cannot detect cancer in its early stages.

Can a DEXA scan show ovarian cancer?

Some studies have shown that it can, although the results are inconclusive. One reason it has been difficult to figure out is that the results of a DEXA scan are often confounded by other issues, such as endometriosis, which can cause the same changes in the bone density that are seen in cancer. That’s why a scan alone is usually not enough to diagnose ovarian cancer.

Can a DEXA scan detect ovarian cancer?

Not specifically, no. The sensitivity of a low-dose scan for ovarian cancer is less than 15%. The test has been shown to be more sensitive in women with a family history of ovarian cancer who are at an increased risk of developing the disease.