A biopsy is the only test that can confirm a cancer diagnosis. However, before doctors conduct a biopsy, they may take a person’s medical history, perform a physical exam, and order various imaging ...

Bone density scan results explain the strength of your bones and assess your risk of breaking a bone. Z-scores are used as the measure for adults under 50 and children. Share on Pinterest izusek/Getty ...

Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years of experience in consumer-facing health and wellness content. Routine bone density scans, known as DEXA scans, are ...

Preparing for a medical test often triggers health anxiety, making it easy to worry about hidden conditions and care needs. While a DEXA scan is the gold standard for spotting osteoporosis and weak ...

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that’s common in the United States, affecting almost 20 percent of women and 5 percent of men over age 50. Osteoporosis occurs when bones are weakened by hormone shifts ...

X-rays are an important first step in diagnosing bone cancer. On an X-ray, bone cancers can make a person’s bones have a ragged, less solid appearance. Bones may also look as though holes formed ...