DEXA BOARDS EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2026
What is a DXA scan? - ANS A tool used to determine bone density.
What is DXA used for? - ANS Tracking changes in bone density over time.
What are the three categories of DXA scan results? - ANS Normal, osteopenia, and
osteoporosis.
How can a physician determine if a patient needs treatment based on DXA scan results? -
ANS By analyzing the scan results.
What does the interval between future scans depend on? - ANS The results of the DXA scan.
What is DXA? - ANS Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a test that measures bone
density.
What is FRAX? - ANS FRAX is a tool used to assess a patient's future risk of fracture.
When is the FRAX tool used? - ANS The FRAX tool is applied in specific situations.
What is the patient questionnaire? - ANS An important part of a DXA scan.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
,Why is the patient questionnaire important? - ANS It provides crucial information for the
scan.
What should the patient do if they don't know certain answers? - ANS Use a default answer.
What factors can affect the outcome of DXA results? - ANS 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? - ANS Taller
height may suggest a higher risk of vertebral fractures
How does the patient's weight affect the scan mode used? - ANS Weight determines the
appropriate scan mode to be used
What is the significance of menopause age in DXA results? - ANS 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? - ANS Graph color
changes from green, yellow, and red to blue
What should coincide with the premenopausal question? - ANS Menopause age answer
What happens if a patient has had a vertebral or hip fracture? - ANS They will not receive a
FRAX
What happens if a patient is being treated for osteoporosis? - ANS They will not receive a
FRAX
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
,What position should the patient be in during a spine scan? - ANS Supine
What should the patient's legs be propped up on? - ANS Positioning block
How should the positioning block be rotated? - ANS To allow for the patient's height
Where should the patient's hands be during the scan? - ANS By their sides
What should the technologist ensure about the patient's spine? - ANS It is as straight as
possible
Where should the patient be centered on the table? - ANS Within the table boundaries
Where should the laser light be placed? - ANS About two fingers above the iliac crests and
centered to the patient's body
What should be included in the scan? - ANS 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?
- ANS 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? - ANS Forearm
In what cases should a forearm be included in the scan? - ANS Severe scoliosis
What is the recommended position for scanning the patient's hips? - ANS Lying on their back
with one leg on either side of the positioning tool.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
3
, Which hip is generally scanned? - ANS The left hip.
When should the right hip be scanned instead of the left hip? - ANS If the patient had broken
the left hip or had hip surgery.
Do some facilities scan both hips? - ANS Yes, some facilities scan both hips.
How should the patient's leg be secured to the positioning tool? - ANS With Velcro straps.
How should the patient's leg be positioned? - ANS Parallel to the table and not abducted or
adducted.
Where should the laser light be placed? - ANS In the middle of the femur at the level of the
greater trochanter.
What can the technologist determine by visualizing the femoral shaft? - ANS If the scan
needs to be repositioned.
Where should the scan start? - ANS A little below the lesser trochanter.
What can the technologist do if it is difficult to visualize the starting point? - ANS Hit the
reposition button.
What will be visualized when the reposition button is pressed? - ANS Crosshairs.
Where should the crosshairs be positioned? - ANS At the lateral aspect of the greater
trochanter and the bottom of the femoral head.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
4
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2026
What is a DXA scan? - ANS A tool used to determine bone density.
What is DXA used for? - ANS Tracking changes in bone density over time.
What are the three categories of DXA scan results? - ANS Normal, osteopenia, and
osteoporosis.
How can a physician determine if a patient needs treatment based on DXA scan results? -
ANS By analyzing the scan results.
What does the interval between future scans depend on? - ANS The results of the DXA scan.
What is DXA? - ANS Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a test that measures bone
density.
What is FRAX? - ANS FRAX is a tool used to assess a patient's future risk of fracture.
When is the FRAX tool used? - ANS The FRAX tool is applied in specific situations.
What is the patient questionnaire? - ANS An important part of a DXA scan.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
,Why is the patient questionnaire important? - ANS It provides crucial information for the
scan.
What should the patient do if they don't know certain answers? - ANS Use a default answer.
What factors can affect the outcome of DXA results? - ANS 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? - ANS Taller
height may suggest a higher risk of vertebral fractures
How does the patient's weight affect the scan mode used? - ANS Weight determines the
appropriate scan mode to be used
What is the significance of menopause age in DXA results? - ANS 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? - ANS Graph color
changes from green, yellow, and red to blue
What should coincide with the premenopausal question? - ANS Menopause age answer
What happens if a patient has had a vertebral or hip fracture? - ANS They will not receive a
FRAX
What happens if a patient is being treated for osteoporosis? - ANS They will not receive a
FRAX
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
,What position should the patient be in during a spine scan? - ANS Supine
What should the patient's legs be propped up on? - ANS Positioning block
How should the positioning block be rotated? - ANS To allow for the patient's height
Where should the patient's hands be during the scan? - ANS By their sides
What should the technologist ensure about the patient's spine? - ANS It is as straight as
possible
Where should the patient be centered on the table? - ANS Within the table boundaries
Where should the laser light be placed? - ANS About two fingers above the iliac crests and
centered to the patient's body
What should be included in the scan? - ANS 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?
- ANS 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? - ANS Forearm
In what cases should a forearm be included in the scan? - ANS Severe scoliosis
What is the recommended position for scanning the patient's hips? - ANS Lying on their back
with one leg on either side of the positioning tool.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
3
, Which hip is generally scanned? - ANS The left hip.
When should the right hip be scanned instead of the left hip? - ANS If the patient had broken
the left hip or had hip surgery.
Do some facilities scan both hips? - ANS Yes, some facilities scan both hips.
How should the patient's leg be secured to the positioning tool? - ANS With Velcro straps.
How should the patient's leg be positioned? - ANS Parallel to the table and not abducted or
adducted.
Where should the laser light be placed? - ANS In the middle of the femur at the level of the
greater trochanter.
What can the technologist determine by visualizing the femoral shaft? - ANS If the scan
needs to be repositioned.
Where should the scan start? - ANS A little below the lesser trochanter.
What can the technologist do if it is difficult to visualize the starting point? - ANS Hit the
reposition button.
What will be visualized when the reposition button is pressed? - ANS Crosshairs.
Where should the crosshairs be positioned? - ANS At the lateral aspect of the greater
trochanter and the bottom of the femoral head.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
4
