DXA Board Exam Prep | Study Guide & Practice Questions
What is a DXA scan? - (answer)A tool used to determine bone density.
What is DXA used for? - (answer)Tracking changes in bone density over time.
What are the three categories of DXA scan results? - (answer)Normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis.
How can a physician determine if a patient needs treatment based on DXA scan results? - (answer)By
analyzing the scan results.
What does the interval between future scans depend on? - (answer)The results of the DXA scan.
What is DXA? - (answer)Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a test that measures bone density.
What is FRAX? - (answer)FRAX is a tool used to assess a patient's future risk of fracture.
When is the FRAX tool used? - (answer)The FRAX tool is applied in specific situations.
What is the patient questionnaire? - (answer)An important part of a DXA scan.
Why is the patient questionnaire important? - (answer)It provides crucial information for the scan.
What should the patient do if they don't know certain answers? - (answer)Use a default answer.
What factors can affect the outcome of DXA results? - (answer)current height, weight, menopause age,
previous hip or vertebral fracture, treatment for osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, premenopausal
status
How can the patient's height be an indicator of possible vertebral fractures? - (answer)Taller height may
suggest a higher risk of vertebral fractures
,DXA Board Exam Prep | Study Guide & Practice Questions
How does the patient's weight affect the scan mode used? - (answer)Weight determines the
appropriate scan mode to be used
What is the significance of menopause age in DXA results? - (answer)Determines whether T-score or Z-
score is used, affects the need for FRAX
How does age and menopause age affect the resulting graph color? - (answer)Graph color changes from
green, yellow, and red to blue
What should coincide with the premenopausal question? - (answer)Menopause age answer
What happens if a patient has had a vertebral or hip fracture? - (answer)They will not receive a FRAX
What happens if a patient is being treated for osteoporosis? - (answer)They will not receive a FRAX
What position should the patient be in during a spine scan? - (answer)Supine
What should the patient's legs be propped up on? - (answer)Positioning block
How should the positioning block be rotated? - (answer)To allow for the patient's height
Where should the patient's hands be during the scan? - (answer)By their sides
What should the technologist ensure about the patient's spine? - (answer)It is as straight as possible
Where should the patient be centered on the table? - (answer)Within the table boundaries
,DXA Board Exam Prep | Study Guide & Practice Questions
Where should the laser light be placed? - (answer)About two fingers above the iliac crests and centered
to the patient's body
What should be included in the scan? - (answer)Top of the crests and T12
Can the spine scan be performed if the patient has metal within the spine at the levels of L1-L4? -
(answer)Yes, if there are two vertebrae without any implanted metal or severe degenerative changes
What body part should be scanned if the metal within the vertebrae does not allow scanning the spine?
- (answer)Forearm
In what cases should a forearm be included in the scan? - (answer)Severe scoliosis
What is the recommended position for scanning the patient's hips? - (answer)Lying on their back with
one leg on either side of the positioning tool.
Which hip is generally scanned? - (answer)The left hip.
When should the right hip be scanned instead of the left hip? - (answer)If the patient had broken the left
hip or had hip surgery.
Do some facilities scan both hips? - (answer)Yes, some facilities scan both hips.
How should the patient's leg be secured to the positioning tool? - (answer)With Velcro straps.
How should the patient's leg be positioned? - (answer)Parallel to the table and not abducted or
adducted.
Where should the laser light be placed? - (answer)In the middle of the femur at the level of the greater
trochanter.
, DXA Board Exam Prep | Study Guide & Practice Questions
What can the technologist determine by visualizing the femoral shaft? - (answer)If the scan needs to be
repositioned.
Where should the scan start? - (answer)A little below the lesser trochanter.
What can the technologist do if it is difficult to visualize the starting point? - (answer)Hit the reposition
button.
What will be visualized when the reposition button is pressed? - (answer)Crosshairs.
Where should the crosshairs be positioned? - (answer)At the lateral aspect of the greater trochanter and
the bottom of the femoral head.
How much of the lesser trochanter should be seen during visualization? - (answer)As little as possible.
What structures should be visualized in the scan? - (answer)The patient's entire hip joint, greater
trochanter, and some of the ischium.
What additional body part should be included in the scan if the patient has bilateral hip replacements? -
(answer)Forearm.
What is the significance of including a forearm in imaging for patients with hyperparathyroidism? -
(answer)To assess for any abnormalities or changes in the forearm related to the condition.
Why is it necessary to include a forearm in imaging for patients who have had a kidney transplant? -
(answer)To evaluate the forearm for any potential complications or issues related to the transplant.
Why might a forearm need to be included in imaging for patients who have had surgery of the hip or
spine with metal implants? - (answer)To visualize the forearm and assess for any interactions or effects
of the metal implants.
What is a DXA scan? - (answer)A tool used to determine bone density.
What is DXA used for? - (answer)Tracking changes in bone density over time.
What are the three categories of DXA scan results? - (answer)Normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis.
How can a physician determine if a patient needs treatment based on DXA scan results? - (answer)By
analyzing the scan results.
What does the interval between future scans depend on? - (answer)The results of the DXA scan.
What is DXA? - (answer)Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a test that measures bone density.
What is FRAX? - (answer)FRAX is a tool used to assess a patient's future risk of fracture.
When is the FRAX tool used? - (answer)The FRAX tool is applied in specific situations.
What is the patient questionnaire? - (answer)An important part of a DXA scan.
Why is the patient questionnaire important? - (answer)It provides crucial information for the scan.
What should the patient do if they don't know certain answers? - (answer)Use a default answer.
What factors can affect the outcome of DXA results? - (answer)current height, weight, menopause age,
previous hip or vertebral fracture, treatment for osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, premenopausal
status
How can the patient's height be an indicator of possible vertebral fractures? - (answer)Taller height may
suggest a higher risk of vertebral fractures
,DXA Board Exam Prep | Study Guide & Practice Questions
How does the patient's weight affect the scan mode used? - (answer)Weight determines the
appropriate scan mode to be used
What is the significance of menopause age in DXA results? - (answer)Determines whether T-score or Z-
score is used, affects the need for FRAX
How does age and menopause age affect the resulting graph color? - (answer)Graph color changes from
green, yellow, and red to blue
What should coincide with the premenopausal question? - (answer)Menopause age answer
What happens if a patient has had a vertebral or hip fracture? - (answer)They will not receive a FRAX
What happens if a patient is being treated for osteoporosis? - (answer)They will not receive a FRAX
What position should the patient be in during a spine scan? - (answer)Supine
What should the patient's legs be propped up on? - (answer)Positioning block
How should the positioning block be rotated? - (answer)To allow for the patient's height
Where should the patient's hands be during the scan? - (answer)By their sides
What should the technologist ensure about the patient's spine? - (answer)It is as straight as possible
Where should the patient be centered on the table? - (answer)Within the table boundaries
,DXA Board Exam Prep | Study Guide & Practice Questions
Where should the laser light be placed? - (answer)About two fingers above the iliac crests and centered
to the patient's body
What should be included in the scan? - (answer)Top of the crests and T12
Can the spine scan be performed if the patient has metal within the spine at the levels of L1-L4? -
(answer)Yes, if there are two vertebrae without any implanted metal or severe degenerative changes
What body part should be scanned if the metal within the vertebrae does not allow scanning the spine?
- (answer)Forearm
In what cases should a forearm be included in the scan? - (answer)Severe scoliosis
What is the recommended position for scanning the patient's hips? - (answer)Lying on their back with
one leg on either side of the positioning tool.
Which hip is generally scanned? - (answer)The left hip.
When should the right hip be scanned instead of the left hip? - (answer)If the patient had broken the left
hip or had hip surgery.
Do some facilities scan both hips? - (answer)Yes, some facilities scan both hips.
How should the patient's leg be secured to the positioning tool? - (answer)With Velcro straps.
How should the patient's leg be positioned? - (answer)Parallel to the table and not abducted or
adducted.
Where should the laser light be placed? - (answer)In the middle of the femur at the level of the greater
trochanter.
, DXA Board Exam Prep | Study Guide & Practice Questions
What can the technologist determine by visualizing the femoral shaft? - (answer)If the scan needs to be
repositioned.
Where should the scan start? - (answer)A little below the lesser trochanter.
What can the technologist do if it is difficult to visualize the starting point? - (answer)Hit the reposition
button.
What will be visualized when the reposition button is pressed? - (answer)Crosshairs.
Where should the crosshairs be positioned? - (answer)At the lateral aspect of the greater trochanter and
the bottom of the femoral head.
How much of the lesser trochanter should be seen during visualization? - (answer)As little as possible.
What structures should be visualized in the scan? - (answer)The patient's entire hip joint, greater
trochanter, and some of the ischium.
What additional body part should be included in the scan if the patient has bilateral hip replacements? -
(answer)Forearm.
What is the significance of including a forearm in imaging for patients with hyperparathyroidism? -
(answer)To assess for any abnormalities or changes in the forearm related to the condition.
Why is it necessary to include a forearm in imaging for patients who have had a kidney transplant? -
(answer)To evaluate the forearm for any potential complications or issues related to the transplant.
Why might a forearm need to be included in imaging for patients who have had surgery of the hip or
spine with metal implants? - (answer)To visualize the forearm and assess for any interactions or effects
of the metal implants.
