DEXA Data Interpretation & Reporting 2

Question 1

A postmenopausal woman's lumbar spine T-score is -2.7. According to WHO criteria, how should this be classified?

Accepted Answer

Osteoporosis

Answer

A T-score of -2.5 or below is classified as osteoporosis by WHO criteria.

Question 2

On a DEXA report, the Z-score compares bone density to which reference population?

Accepted Answer

Age-matched and sex-matched peers

Answer

The Z-score compares a patient's BMD to age-matched and sex-matched reference norms.

Question 3

A DEXA report shows a BMD of 0.842 g/cm² at the femoral neck with a T-score of -1.8. What is the most appropriate classification?

Accepted Answer

Osteopenia

Answer

T-scores between -1.0 and -2.5 are classified as osteopenia (low bone mass).

Question 4

When reporting total hip BMD, which sub-regions are typically averaged together?

Accepted Answer

Femoral neck, trochanter, and intertrochanteric region

Answer

Total hip BMD is derived from averaging the femoral neck, trochanter, and intertrochanteric sub-regions.

Question 5

A patient's follow-up lumbar spine BMD increased from 0.910 to 0.932 g/cm². The facility's LSC is 0.030 g/cm². How should this change be reported?

Accepted Answer

No significant change — within measurement error

Answer

A change of 0.022 g/cm² is below the LSC of 0.030 g/cm², so it falls within measurement error and is not statistically significant.

(DEXA) DEXA Bone Density Scan Certification Practice Test