Bone Mineral Densitometry (BMD) Scan

A Bone Mineral Densitometry (BMD) Scan tests how strong your child’s bones are.

Preparation and procedure

This scan will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Your child will be asked to lie down on a bed and a special camera, using a small amount of X ray will take pictures of your child’s bones. 

• Your child can eat and drink as usual.
• Your child should wear comfortable clothing free of any metal (zippers or metal buttons/beads). 
• You will need to wait at least 2 weeks before this test if your child has had another test involving contrast such as a CT scan, MRI scan or XRAY where they were asked to drink a solution.

Post-test:

The scan results are given by a doctor specialized in Nuclear Medicine and not by the technologist doing the test.  A report is sent to your doctor’s office, usually within 2-3 business days. 

Please call the Nuclear Medicine Department at 416-813-6065 if you have any questions about the procedure or if you need to change the appointment.