BONE DENSITOMETRY REVIEW QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
2.5 SDs or more below the young adult peak bone density - Answer -According to
WHO, for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, based on the measurement of bone density is
a. 2.5 SDs or more below the young adult peak bone density and a fracture
b. 2.5 SDs or more below the young adult peak bone density
c. More than 1 SD but less than 2.5 SDs below the young adult peak bone density
d. Not more than 1 SD below the young adult peak bone density
DXA - Answer -What is the most common technique that is used to measure BMD?
a. QUS
b. QCT
c. SXA
d. DXA
Spine - Answer -What is the most common osteoporotic fracture?
a. Hip
b. Shoulder
c. Spine
d. Wrist
Time - Answer -In bone densitometry, what is the primary responsibility of the
technologist?
a. Beam collimation
b. Distance
c. Shielding
d. Time
Race - Answer -Which of the following is considered an uncontrollable risk factor for
osteoporosis?
a. Exercise
b. Lifestyle choices
c. Smoking
d. Race
QCT spine - Answer -Which of the following measures more trabecular bone?
a. PA spine
b. Lateral spine
c. QCT spine
d. VFA
Menopause - Answer -Primary osteoporosis Type 1, is related to
a. Aging
,b. Disease
c. Medication
d. Menopause
Most obese patients are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis - Answer -
Identify the incorrect statement from the following:
a. Caucasian and Asians are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis compared
to other ethnic groups
b. Most obese patients are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis
c. Women are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis compared to men
because they achieve a lower peak bone mass and go through menopause
d. Smoking is a recognized risk factor for the development of osteoporosis
L4 - Answer -Which lumbar vertebra is described as having a characteristic shape of an
X or H on a DXA PA spine scan?
a. L1
b. L2
c. L3
d. L4
Gadolinium- 153 - Answer -What is the name of the radionuclitide used in DPA?
a. Americium- 241
b. Gadolinium- 153
c. Iodine- 125
d. Technetium-99
The rate of change in BMD is too slow - Answer -The forearm is not used to monitor the
effects of therapy for osteoporosis because:
a. Accuracy is poor
b. Precision is poor
c. There is no effect
d. The rate of change in BMD is too slow
Forteo - Answer -Which of the following is not a bisphosphonate?
a. Alendronate
b. Etodronate
c. Forteo
d. Zoledronic acid
The osteoclasts - Answer -The primary mechanism of action of anti-resorptive
therapies is the result of direct interaction with:
a. The bone lining cells
b. The osteoblasts
c. The osteoclasts
d. The osteocytes
, Only Caucasian postmenopausal women - Answer -The WHO criteria for diagnosing
osteoporosis was initially defined to apply to:
a. All women
b. All Caucasian women
c. Only postmenopausal women
d. Only Caucasian postmenopausal women
Screening - Answer -The measurement of peripheral BMD is advocated for:
a. All individuals regardless of age
b. Pediatrics
c. Screening
d. Males
Posterior elements - Answer -The PA spine mostly measures the:
a. Posterior elements
b. Vertebral bodies
c. Transverse processes
d. Pedicles
Trabecular bone - Answer -Cancellous bone is also known as
a. Compact bone
b. Cortical bone
c. Trabecular bone
d. Osteophyte
Osteoblasts - Answer -New bone matrix is formed by:
a. Osteoblasts
b. Osteoclasts
c. Cortical bone
d. Cancellous bone
66% - Answer -What percentage of trabecular bone is found in the PA spine?
a. 1%
b. 33%
c. 50%
d. 66%
Serial DXA measurements of the hip and spine - Answer -Currently, the most accurate
method to determine a patient's response to therapy for osteoporosis is:
a. Serial DXA measurements of the forearm
b. Serial DXA measurements of the hip and spine
c. Serial QUS measurements of the calcaneus
d. Serial QCT measurements of the spine
Corticosteroid therapy - Answer -Which of the following does not help in achieving peak
bone mass?
ANSWERS
2.5 SDs or more below the young adult peak bone density - Answer -According to
WHO, for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, based on the measurement of bone density is
a. 2.5 SDs or more below the young adult peak bone density and a fracture
b. 2.5 SDs or more below the young adult peak bone density
c. More than 1 SD but less than 2.5 SDs below the young adult peak bone density
d. Not more than 1 SD below the young adult peak bone density
DXA - Answer -What is the most common technique that is used to measure BMD?
a. QUS
b. QCT
c. SXA
d. DXA
Spine - Answer -What is the most common osteoporotic fracture?
a. Hip
b. Shoulder
c. Spine
d. Wrist
Time - Answer -In bone densitometry, what is the primary responsibility of the
technologist?
a. Beam collimation
b. Distance
c. Shielding
d. Time
Race - Answer -Which of the following is considered an uncontrollable risk factor for
osteoporosis?
a. Exercise
b. Lifestyle choices
c. Smoking
d. Race
QCT spine - Answer -Which of the following measures more trabecular bone?
a. PA spine
b. Lateral spine
c. QCT spine
d. VFA
Menopause - Answer -Primary osteoporosis Type 1, is related to
a. Aging
,b. Disease
c. Medication
d. Menopause
Most obese patients are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis - Answer -
Identify the incorrect statement from the following:
a. Caucasian and Asians are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis compared
to other ethnic groups
b. Most obese patients are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis
c. Women are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis compared to men
because they achieve a lower peak bone mass and go through menopause
d. Smoking is a recognized risk factor for the development of osteoporosis
L4 - Answer -Which lumbar vertebra is described as having a characteristic shape of an
X or H on a DXA PA spine scan?
a. L1
b. L2
c. L3
d. L4
Gadolinium- 153 - Answer -What is the name of the radionuclitide used in DPA?
a. Americium- 241
b. Gadolinium- 153
c. Iodine- 125
d. Technetium-99
The rate of change in BMD is too slow - Answer -The forearm is not used to monitor the
effects of therapy for osteoporosis because:
a. Accuracy is poor
b. Precision is poor
c. There is no effect
d. The rate of change in BMD is too slow
Forteo - Answer -Which of the following is not a bisphosphonate?
a. Alendronate
b. Etodronate
c. Forteo
d. Zoledronic acid
The osteoclasts - Answer -The primary mechanism of action of anti-resorptive
therapies is the result of direct interaction with:
a. The bone lining cells
b. The osteoblasts
c. The osteoclasts
d. The osteocytes
, Only Caucasian postmenopausal women - Answer -The WHO criteria for diagnosing
osteoporosis was initially defined to apply to:
a. All women
b. All Caucasian women
c. Only postmenopausal women
d. Only Caucasian postmenopausal women
Screening - Answer -The measurement of peripheral BMD is advocated for:
a. All individuals regardless of age
b. Pediatrics
c. Screening
d. Males
Posterior elements - Answer -The PA spine mostly measures the:
a. Posterior elements
b. Vertebral bodies
c. Transverse processes
d. Pedicles
Trabecular bone - Answer -Cancellous bone is also known as
a. Compact bone
b. Cortical bone
c. Trabecular bone
d. Osteophyte
Osteoblasts - Answer -New bone matrix is formed by:
a. Osteoblasts
b. Osteoclasts
c. Cortical bone
d. Cancellous bone
66% - Answer -What percentage of trabecular bone is found in the PA spine?
a. 1%
b. 33%
c. 50%
d. 66%
Serial DXA measurements of the hip and spine - Answer -Currently, the most accurate
method to determine a patient's response to therapy for osteoporosis is:
a. Serial DXA measurements of the forearm
b. Serial DXA measurements of the hip and spine
c. Serial QUS measurements of the calcaneus
d. Serial QCT measurements of the spine
Corticosteroid therapy - Answer -Which of the following does not help in achieving peak
bone mass?
