DXA Bone Scan — Low Risk for Bone Disease — Clinical Pathway: Inpatient, Outpatient Specialty Care and Primary Care

Bone Density Scan (DXA) Clinical Pathway — Outpatient Specialty Care and Primary Care

No or Low Risk for Bone Disease

On review of the data over a three-year period from CHOP, children with the following conditions were extremely unlikely to demonstrate low bone mineral density:

  • Vitamin D deficiency
  • Obesity
    • Note: DXA could be done to assess body composition
  • Mild malnutrition
  • Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use
    • e.g., omeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole

Typically, these conditions alone are not associated with low bone density. Obtaining a DXA scan in asymptomatic children may be unnecessary.