Discovery DXA system

Discovery DEXA

Anthropometry objective

Whole body DEXA scan

29th October 2021

Richard Powell, MRC Epidemiology Unit

The Discovery is a Hologic DEXA system which can be used for whole body scans. Hologic DEXA systems generates two low energy X-rays and is classed as a fan beam. It measures the attenuation of the two X-rays as they pass through the body tissues. Different tissues absorb these x rays in different manners and it therefore distinguishes bone mass from soft tissue and within the soft tissue fat mass and lean mass. The manufactures APEX software provide estimates of fat, bone mineral content and lean mass in the total body and in specifically defined regions. The APEX InnerCore software feature can produce estimates of visceral adipose tissue (mass and volume) within the android region. The measurement field is 197 cm x 65 cm for whole body scans with a maximum patient weight 204 kg and a exposure of 12 µGy.