DEXA Data Interpretation & Reporting 5

Question 1

A DEXA report notes that the patient's hip prosthesis prevents analysis of the right total hip. What is the recommended alternative measurement site?

Accepted Answer

Contralateral (left) total hip or lumbar spine

Answer

If one hip cannot be analyzed due to hardware, the contralateral hip or lumbar spine should be used as the primary measurement site.

Question 2

Which of the following best describes the clinical significance of a Vertebral Fracture Assessment (VFA) finding of Grade 2 (moderate) vertebral fracture?

Accepted Answer

20–40% height reduction of the vertebral body — reclassifies patient to high fracture risk regardless of BMD

Answer

A Grade 2 (moderate) vertebral fracture indicates 20–40% vertebral height reduction and immediately reclassifies the patient as high fracture risk, which influences treatment decisions.

Question 3

When a DEXA report shows progressive bone loss over three serial scans despite treatment, what additional reporting element is most clinically useful to include?

Accepted Answer

Cumulative percentage change from baseline and comment on treatment response

Answer

Reporting cumulative percentage change from baseline and noting inadequate treatment response helps clinicians decide whether to reassess therapy or adherence.

Question 4

A DEXA report lists a patient's femoral neck T-score as -2.4 and total hip T-score as -2.6. The reporting technologist should base the diagnostic classification on:

Accepted Answer

The lowest T-score, which is the total hip at -2.6, indicating osteoporosis

Answer

The diagnosis is based on the lowest T-score across all valid sites; a total hip T-score of -2.6 meets the WHO threshold for osteoporosis.

Question 5

A facility reports that its root mean square standard deviation (RMS-SD) precision is 0.012 g/cm² for femoral neck BMD. What is the Least Significant Change (LSC) at the 95% confidence level?

Accepted Answer

0.033 g/cm²

Answer

LSC at 95% CI = 2.77 × RMS-SD; 2.77 × 0.012 = 0.033 g/cm².

(DEXA) DEXA Bone Density Scan Certification Practice Test

(DEXA) DEXA Bone Density Scan Certification Practice Test

DEXA Data Interpretation & Reporting 5