Osteoporosis (NIH, WHO)

Question 1

What is a T-score?

Answer 1

A patient’s current BMD compared to the mean age at which peak bone density is achieved.

Question 2

DXA measurements of which body parts are clinically the most useful?

Answer 2

• Spine

- Proximal femur

Question 3

Where do vertebral fractures in osteoporosis frequently occur?

Answer 3

• T7 to T9 region
  And
• T12 to L2 region

Question 4

What do you need to watch out for when doing DXA measurements in patients with osteoporotic fractures of the lumbar spine?

Answer 4

These often occur in L1 and L2 and can falsely elevate the bone density if included in the DXA measurement

Question 5

What kind of degenerative change commonly causes misdiagnosis of osteoporosis?

Answer 5

Osteophytes (falsely elevate BMD)

Question 6

What T-score values are consistent with the diagnosis of osteoporosis based on the WHO criteria?

Answer 6

T-score of -2.5 or less

Question 7

What are the two most common applications of bone densitometry?

Answer 7

• Diagnosis of osteoporosis

- Assessment of fracture

Question 8

For accurate diagnosis - bone density must be followed on the same machine.

True or false?

Answer 8

True

Question 9

Can osteoporosis be diagnosed in the absence of prevalent fractures?

Answer 9

Yes

Question 10

Which disease is known as ‘the silent epidemic’?

Answer 10

Osteoporosis