ARRT Bone Density Exam Study Set
Questions and Answers Graded A+
According to the WHO criteria, what is the diagnosis of osteoporosis based on the
measurement of bone density? - Correct answer-2.5 SD or more below the young
adult peak bone density
What is the gold standard technique for measuring bone density? - Correct answer-
DXA
Cancellous bone is also know as? - Correct answer-Trabecular Bone
What is the anatomical landmark on the proximal femur that gives the best visual
indication of the degree of rotation of the proximal femur? - Correct answer-Lesser
Trochanter
Which lumbar vertebra is described as having a characteristic shape of an X or and
H on a DXA PA spine scan? - Correct answer-L4
Is Forteo a bisphosphonate? - Correct answer-NO
Quantitative Computated Tomography (QCT) - Correct answer--measurements are
volumetric
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,-trabecular bone can be isolated from cortical bone
-accuracy may be affected by marrow fat
Peripheral BMD measurements are advocated for _____________? - Correct
answer-Screening
What is the most important clinical consequence of osteoporosis? - Correct
answer-Fracture
What is the name of the tool that integrates clinical information in a quantitative
manner to predict a 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fracture for both men
and women? - Correct answer-FRAX
What is the major source of precision error in clinical practice? - Correct answer-
Technologist
What is the percentage of trabecular bone in the skeleton? - Correct answer-20 %
The forearm is not used to monitor the effects of therapy for osteoporosis
because....... - Correct answer-rate of change in BMD is too slow
What site is mostly composed of cortical bone? - Correct answer-Proximal forearm
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,What are the advantages of QUS over x-ray methodologies for BMD
measurement? - Correct answer--ultrasound is comparatively inexpensive
-patients are not subjected to ionizing radiation
-ultrasound exams are quick to perform
What is the name of the isotope that was used in SPA? - Correct answer-Iodine-125
What is the texture index that evaluates the pixel gray-level variations in lumber
spine DXA images? - Correct answer-TBS (Trabecular Bone Score)
When does type 2 primary osteoporosis generally occur? - Correct answer-after
age 70
What technique used images of the hand and an aluminum wedge? - Correct
answer-RA (Radiograhic Absorptiometry)
New bone is formed by the ___________? - Correct answer-osteoblasts
Cancellous bone is also known as _______________? - Correct answer-Trabecular
bone
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, How would you start labeling the vertebral bodies on a PA lumbar scan? - Correct
answer-Start at L4 and count/label up
With changes in rotation of the femoral neck, what happens? - Correct answer-
Increases the BMD
If daily QC fails, what should be your first step of action? - Correct answer--repeat
the scan
-if scan fails again, then call for help
Although the technology is similar with all of the DXA units, the BMD results are
different because.......... - Correct answer--different calibration standards
-algorithms to calculate BMD
-differences in the ROI
-different databases
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
Questions and Answers Graded A+
According to the WHO criteria, what is the diagnosis of osteoporosis based on the
measurement of bone density? - Correct answer-2.5 SD or more below the young
adult peak bone density
What is the gold standard technique for measuring bone density? - Correct answer-
DXA
Cancellous bone is also know as? - Correct answer-Trabecular Bone
What is the anatomical landmark on the proximal femur that gives the best visual
indication of the degree of rotation of the proximal femur? - Correct answer-Lesser
Trochanter
Which lumbar vertebra is described as having a characteristic shape of an X or and
H on a DXA PA spine scan? - Correct answer-L4
Is Forteo a bisphosphonate? - Correct answer-NO
Quantitative Computated Tomography (QCT) - Correct answer--measurements are
volumetric
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,-trabecular bone can be isolated from cortical bone
-accuracy may be affected by marrow fat
Peripheral BMD measurements are advocated for _____________? - Correct
answer-Screening
What is the most important clinical consequence of osteoporosis? - Correct
answer-Fracture
What is the name of the tool that integrates clinical information in a quantitative
manner to predict a 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fracture for both men
and women? - Correct answer-FRAX
What is the major source of precision error in clinical practice? - Correct answer-
Technologist
What is the percentage of trabecular bone in the skeleton? - Correct answer-20 %
The forearm is not used to monitor the effects of therapy for osteoporosis
because....... - Correct answer-rate of change in BMD is too slow
What site is mostly composed of cortical bone? - Correct answer-Proximal forearm
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,What are the advantages of QUS over x-ray methodologies for BMD
measurement? - Correct answer--ultrasound is comparatively inexpensive
-patients are not subjected to ionizing radiation
-ultrasound exams are quick to perform
What is the name of the isotope that was used in SPA? - Correct answer-Iodine-125
What is the texture index that evaluates the pixel gray-level variations in lumber
spine DXA images? - Correct answer-TBS (Trabecular Bone Score)
When does type 2 primary osteoporosis generally occur? - Correct answer-after
age 70
What technique used images of the hand and an aluminum wedge? - Correct
answer-RA (Radiograhic Absorptiometry)
New bone is formed by the ___________? - Correct answer-osteoblasts
Cancellous bone is also known as _______________? - Correct answer-Trabecular
bone
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, How would you start labeling the vertebral bodies on a PA lumbar scan? - Correct
answer-Start at L4 and count/label up
With changes in rotation of the femoral neck, what happens? - Correct answer-
Increases the BMD
If daily QC fails, what should be your first step of action? - Correct answer--repeat
the scan
-if scan fails again, then call for help
Although the technology is similar with all of the DXA units, the BMD results are
different because.......... - Correct answer--different calibration standards
-algorithms to calculate BMD
-differences in the ROI
-different databases
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
