DXA FINAL EXAM TESTBANK 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
100% VERIFIED ANSWERS. PDF
When bone densitometry is used for the purpose of diagnosing osteoporosis _____
is imperative and when it is used to follow changes in bone density over time _____
is imperative.
accuracy, precision
Which of the following is not considered a central site?
forearm
Which of the following is not considered a predominately trabecular site?
33% forearm
Which of the following is not considered an appendicular site?
PA spine
Which type of bone exhibits a greater metabolic rate, making it more reactive to
certain forms of therapy?
trabecular
When considering two vertebrae of different sizes with identical volumetric BMD,
which vertebra would have the higher areal BMD?
the larger vertebra
Bone density measurements acquired with which of the following would include a
stiffness index?
QUS
Z-score
An indication of how many standard deviations the patient's score lies above or
below the average value of others of the same age and sex
T-score
,An indication of how many standard deviations the patients score lies above or
below the peak value for a young adult.
RA
A method of quantifying bone mass by obtaining radiographic images of a step
wedge of known density along with an extremity.
DPA
A dual energy bone densitometer that uses gadolinium as its radioactive source.
QCT
A method of assessing volumetric bone density by scanning both a patient and a
phantom at the same time.
QUS
A common method of assessing bone density of the calcaneus.
Which of the following could only be found on the bone densitometry report by
looking at the age regression graph?
age range used for peak bone density
How much bone density loss must be present to detect this loss on a radiograph?
40%
What is the purpose of the dual energy x-ray beam used by DXA?
In enables quantification of soft tissue absorption so that it can be subtracted from the data.
Which of the following is not a method of formation of the DXA dual energy beam?
sealed radionuclide
Which of the following is not an advantage of a fan beam detector when compared
with a pencil beam detector?
lower patient dose
Which of the following describes the appearance of L1 on DXA study?
U
,Which vertebra has the largest transverse process, resulting in it sometimes being
seen on the DXA image?
L3
Why is L5 not quantified on studies?
to eliminate possible interference from the pelvis
Which of the following has the lowest BMD?
L1
The largest increase in BMD is most commonly seen between which of the following?
L1-L2
Which of the following will not cause an increase in BMD for the DXA PA spine
study?
vertebral body rotation
Which of the following is not a true statement regarding the lateral lumbar spine DXA
study?
When compared to the PA spine, a greater number of contiguous vertebrae are usually able
to be measured with the lateral projection.
You have been asked to perform a proximal femur DXA study on a patient who is
right handed and has a history of left hip fracture. Which proximal femur should be
chosen for the study?
the right proximal femur
Ward's area is best defined by which of the following?
an anatomic region in the femoral neck formed by the intersection of three trabecular
bundles
Which of the following is the preferred site for evaluation of patients with
osteoarthritis of the hip?
trochanteric region
A DXA study of the forearm has been ordered on a left handed patient who has a
history of a previous right wrist fracture. Which forearm should be chosen for the
study?
, the left forearm
Which of the following is considered the ultra distal site of the radius?
5% site
What is the purpose of the positioning block used during a PA lumbar spine DXA
scan?
it flattens out the lumbar spine
As the PA lumbar spine DXA image begins to appear on the monitor, what should the
technologist be looking for?
all of the above
What anatomy should appear on the PA lumbar spine DXA image?
the vertebra containing the lowest set of ribs through S1
Which of the following can result from off centering the spine during a PA lumbar
spine DXA scan?
all of the above
Which of the following should be verified by the technologist during scan analysis for
the PA lumbar spine? 1. proper bone edge placement 2. proper placement of
intervertebral markers 3. proper placement of the femur neck box 4. proper labeling
of the lumbar vertebrae
1, 2, and 4
When seen on the image, which of the following would necessitate rescheduling the
scan for a later time?1. kidney stones2. pancreatic calcifications3. contrast agent4.
ingested calcium tablets
3 and 4
Proper internal rotation of the femur results in which of the following?1. a femoral
neck that is parallel with the plane of the table2. a Pike's Peak sign3. a lesser
trochanter that is small in size4. a greater trochanter that is small in size
1 and 3
100% VERIFIED ANSWERS. PDF
When bone densitometry is used for the purpose of diagnosing osteoporosis _____
is imperative and when it is used to follow changes in bone density over time _____
is imperative.
accuracy, precision
Which of the following is not considered a central site?
forearm
Which of the following is not considered a predominately trabecular site?
33% forearm
Which of the following is not considered an appendicular site?
PA spine
Which type of bone exhibits a greater metabolic rate, making it more reactive to
certain forms of therapy?
trabecular
When considering two vertebrae of different sizes with identical volumetric BMD,
which vertebra would have the higher areal BMD?
the larger vertebra
Bone density measurements acquired with which of the following would include a
stiffness index?
QUS
Z-score
An indication of how many standard deviations the patient's score lies above or
below the average value of others of the same age and sex
T-score
,An indication of how many standard deviations the patients score lies above or
below the peak value for a young adult.
RA
A method of quantifying bone mass by obtaining radiographic images of a step
wedge of known density along with an extremity.
DPA
A dual energy bone densitometer that uses gadolinium as its radioactive source.
QCT
A method of assessing volumetric bone density by scanning both a patient and a
phantom at the same time.
QUS
A common method of assessing bone density of the calcaneus.
Which of the following could only be found on the bone densitometry report by
looking at the age regression graph?
age range used for peak bone density
How much bone density loss must be present to detect this loss on a radiograph?
40%
What is the purpose of the dual energy x-ray beam used by DXA?
In enables quantification of soft tissue absorption so that it can be subtracted from the data.
Which of the following is not a method of formation of the DXA dual energy beam?
sealed radionuclide
Which of the following is not an advantage of a fan beam detector when compared
with a pencil beam detector?
lower patient dose
Which of the following describes the appearance of L1 on DXA study?
U
,Which vertebra has the largest transverse process, resulting in it sometimes being
seen on the DXA image?
L3
Why is L5 not quantified on studies?
to eliminate possible interference from the pelvis
Which of the following has the lowest BMD?
L1
The largest increase in BMD is most commonly seen between which of the following?
L1-L2
Which of the following will not cause an increase in BMD for the DXA PA spine
study?
vertebral body rotation
Which of the following is not a true statement regarding the lateral lumbar spine DXA
study?
When compared to the PA spine, a greater number of contiguous vertebrae are usually able
to be measured with the lateral projection.
You have been asked to perform a proximal femur DXA study on a patient who is
right handed and has a history of left hip fracture. Which proximal femur should be
chosen for the study?
the right proximal femur
Ward's area is best defined by which of the following?
an anatomic region in the femoral neck formed by the intersection of three trabecular
bundles
Which of the following is the preferred site for evaluation of patients with
osteoarthritis of the hip?
trochanteric region
A DXA study of the forearm has been ordered on a left handed patient who has a
history of a previous right wrist fracture. Which forearm should be chosen for the
study?
, the left forearm
Which of the following is considered the ultra distal site of the radius?
5% site
What is the purpose of the positioning block used during a PA lumbar spine DXA
scan?
it flattens out the lumbar spine
As the PA lumbar spine DXA image begins to appear on the monitor, what should the
technologist be looking for?
all of the above
What anatomy should appear on the PA lumbar spine DXA image?
the vertebra containing the lowest set of ribs through S1
Which of the following can result from off centering the spine during a PA lumbar
spine DXA scan?
all of the above
Which of the following should be verified by the technologist during scan analysis for
the PA lumbar spine? 1. proper bone edge placement 2. proper placement of
intervertebral markers 3. proper placement of the femur neck box 4. proper labeling
of the lumbar vertebrae
1, 2, and 4
When seen on the image, which of the following would necessitate rescheduling the
scan for a later time?1. kidney stones2. pancreatic calcifications3. contrast agent4.
ingested calcium tablets
3 and 4
Proper internal rotation of the femur results in which of the following?1. a femoral
neck that is parallel with the plane of the table2. a Pike's Peak sign3. a lesser
trochanter that is small in size4. a greater trochanter that is small in size
1 and 3
