BMD Review Exam UPDATED QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
According to the WHO criteria, for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, based on the measurement of bone
density is _____ - CORRECT ANSWER 2.5 SDs or more below the young adult peak bone
density
Name the current gold standard technique for measuring bone density? - CORRECT
ANSWER DXA
Cancellous bone is also known as what? - CORRECT ANSWER Trabecular bone
What is the anatomical landmark on the proximal femur that indicates the best visual indication of the
degree of rotation of the proximal femur? - CORRECT ANSWER Lesser Trochanter
Which lumbar vertebrae is described as having a characteristic shape of an X or H on a DXA PA
Spine scan? - CORRECT ANSWER L4 (L1-3 U shape)
TRUE OR FALSE: Alendronate, Etidronate, Forteo and Zolendronic acid are all bisphosphonates? -
CORRECT ANSWER FALSE- Forteo is a parathyroid hormone medication
All of the following are true about QCT EXCEPT:
a) Measurements are volumetric rather than areal
b) Results are usually reported in g/cm squared
c) Trabecular bine can be isolated from cortical bone
d) Accuracy may be affected by marrow fat - CORRECT ANSWER b) Results are usually
reported in g/cm squared
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 1-
year probability of major osteoporotic fracture for both men and women? - CORRECT
ANSWER FRAX (score)
What is the major source of precision error in clinical practice? - CORRECT
ANSWER Technologist
What percentage of trabecular bone (also known as compact bone) makes up 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 in too slow
Which of the following does not help in achieving peak bone mass?
a) Adequate calcium and vitamin D
b) Exercise
c) Normal Puberty
d) Corticosteroids - CORRECT ANSWER d) Corticosteroids
What site is mostly composed of cortical bone? - CORRECT ANSWER Proximal Forearm-
99%
Which of the following statements is false concerning QUS advantages over xray methodologies for
BMD measurement?
a) Ultrasound is comparatively inexpensive
b) The patient's heel must be immersed in liquid during the procedure
c) Patients are not subjected to ionizing radiation
d) Ultrasound examinations are quick to perform - CORRECT ANSWER b) The patient's heel
must be immersed in liquid during the procedure
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 lumbar spine DXA images? -
CORRECT ANSWER TBS- Measure bone texture
Type 2 primary osteoporosis occurs in? - CORRECT ANSWER Generally after age 70
Radiation programs are designed to protect:
a) The patient
b) The technologist
c) The public
d) All the above - CORRECT ANSWER All of the above
New bone is formed by? - CORRECT ANSWER Osteoblasts
Identify the incorrect statement from the following:
a) Caucasian and Asian are at increase risk of developing osteoporosis compared to other ethnic
groups
b) Women are at an increase risk of developing osteoporosis compared with men because they achieve
a lower peak bone mass and go through menopause
c) Smoking is recognized risk factor for the development of osteoporosis
d) Excessive consumption of alcohol does not affect your bones - CORRECT ANSWER d)
Excessive consumption of alcohol does not affect your bones
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 Increase
the BMD
In the United States, if the daily QC fails, what should be your first step of action? - CORRECT
ANSWER Repeat the scan (if it fails again it is down)
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
According to the WHO criteria, for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, based on the measurement of bone
density is _____ - CORRECT ANSWER 2.5 SDs or more below the young adult peak bone
density
Name the current gold standard technique for measuring bone density? - CORRECT
ANSWER DXA
Cancellous bone is also known as what? - CORRECT ANSWER Trabecular bone
What is the anatomical landmark on the proximal femur that indicates the best visual indication of the
degree of rotation of the proximal femur? - CORRECT ANSWER Lesser Trochanter
Which lumbar vertebrae is described as having a characteristic shape of an X or H on a DXA PA
Spine scan? - CORRECT ANSWER L4 (L1-3 U shape)
TRUE OR FALSE: Alendronate, Etidronate, Forteo and Zolendronic acid are all bisphosphonates? -
CORRECT ANSWER FALSE- Forteo is a parathyroid hormone medication
All of the following are true about QCT EXCEPT:
a) Measurements are volumetric rather than areal
b) Results are usually reported in g/cm squared
c) Trabecular bine can be isolated from cortical bone
d) Accuracy may be affected by marrow fat - CORRECT ANSWER b) Results are usually
reported in g/cm squared
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 1-
year probability of major osteoporotic fracture for both men and women? - CORRECT
ANSWER FRAX (score)
What is the major source of precision error in clinical practice? - CORRECT
ANSWER Technologist
What percentage of trabecular bone (also known as compact bone) makes up 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 in too slow
Which of the following does not help in achieving peak bone mass?
a) Adequate calcium and vitamin D
b) Exercise
c) Normal Puberty
d) Corticosteroids - CORRECT ANSWER d) Corticosteroids
What site is mostly composed of cortical bone? - CORRECT ANSWER Proximal Forearm-
99%
Which of the following statements is false concerning QUS advantages over xray methodologies for
BMD measurement?
a) Ultrasound is comparatively inexpensive
b) The patient's heel must be immersed in liquid during the procedure
c) Patients are not subjected to ionizing radiation
d) Ultrasound examinations are quick to perform - CORRECT ANSWER b) The patient's heel
must be immersed in liquid during the procedure
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 lumbar spine DXA images? -
CORRECT ANSWER TBS- Measure bone texture
Type 2 primary osteoporosis occurs in? - CORRECT ANSWER Generally after age 70
Radiation programs are designed to protect:
a) The patient
b) The technologist
c) The public
d) All the above - CORRECT ANSWER All of the above
New bone is formed by? - CORRECT ANSWER Osteoblasts
Identify the incorrect statement from the following:
a) Caucasian and Asian are at increase risk of developing osteoporosis compared to other ethnic
groups
b) Women are at an increase risk of developing osteoporosis compared with men because they achieve
a lower peak bone mass and go through menopause
c) Smoking is recognized risk factor for the development of osteoporosis
d) Excessive consumption of alcohol does not affect your bones - CORRECT ANSWER d)
Excessive consumption of alcohol does not affect your bones
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 Increase
the BMD
In the United States, if the daily QC fails, what should be your first step of action? - CORRECT
ANSWER Repeat the scan (if it fails again it is down)
