10 exam-style questions with answers and explanations, straight from our 1,030-question bank. Tap an answer to check yourself. When you're ready, take the scored version in the free practice test.
The RTBD exam has 105 questions and runs 1 hour 45 minutes.
These 10 free RTBD questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Registered Technologist - Bone Densitometry blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.
"I had yogurt and toast this morning. Will you have to cancel my bone density test?" The patient is scheduled for routine lumbar-spine and hip DXA, has taken no calcium supplements for 48 hours, and reports no recent contrast or nuclear medicine study. The remaining preparation checks are satisfactory. How should the technologist respond?
Correct answer: A - Proceed with the examination; an ordinary breakfast does not require postponement.
Three weeks after a first denosumab injection, a patient receiving hemodialysis arrives for DXA. During the history, the patient reports new tingling around the mouth and develops painful hand spasms. What takes priority over completing the scheduled examination?
Correct answer: B - Arrange urgent medical assessment for possible severe hypocalcemia.
A 62-year-old woman with low bone mass swims regularly and asks what her routine is missing for bone health. She has no fragility-fracture history, and her clinician has cleared her for progressive exercise. Which addition most directly addresses both skeletal loading and fall prevention?
Correct answer: C - Weight-bearing activity, progressive resistance training, and balance exercises.
At a treatment-monitoring visit, total-hip BMD is 0.780 g/cm², compared with 0.750 g/cm² at baseline. Both examinations are technically comparable: the same scanner, side, positioning, and analysis region were used. The facility's validated 95% least significant change for this measurement is 0.040 g/cm². Which interpretation correctly combines the percentage change with its statistical significance?
Correct answer: D - A 4.0% increase, without a statistically significant change.
A 13-year-old taking long-term systemic glucocorticoids has a radiographically confirmed vertebral compression fracture after bending to lift a light school bag. Local vertebral disease and high-energy trauma have been excluded. The height-adjusted lumbar BMD Z-score is -1.3, and there is no long-bone fracture history. How do the ISCD pediatric diagnostic criteria apply?
Correct answer: A - The vertebral fracture satisfies an osteoporosis criterion despite the Z-score being above -2.0.
A technologist's in-vivo precision assessment yields a total-hip precision error of 2.4%. The scanner's phantom measurements remain stable and within acceptance limits. Review of the duplicate patient acquisitions shows inconsistent hip rotation. Which response addresses the demonstrated problem?
Correct answer: A - Provide positioning retraining and repeat the in-vivo precision assessment.
A hip DXA image is sharp, but the femoral neck appears foreshortened and the lesser trochanter is unusually prominent. The femoral shaft is parallel to the table edge, and the patient has painless, unrestricted hip motion. Which correction addresses the acquisition error?
Correct answer: B - Increase internal rotation of the leg and reacquire the hip.
The referral for a right-handed, postmenopausal woman specifies primary hyperparathyroidism. Her hip and lumbar-spine measurements are interpretable, and neither forearm has a fracture, implant, or local bone disorder. Under ISCD recommendations, which additional measurement is appropriate?
Correct answer: C - The left 33% radius, providing the recommended cortical-rich forearm assessment.
A 71-year-old man's PA lumbar DXA shows L1 T-score -2.4, L2 -2.3, L3 -0.5, and L4 -2.2. L3 has marked osteophytes and sclerosis; the other vertebrae have no local structural abnormality or artifact. Which vertebral set should be retained for the lumbar diagnostic analysis?
Correct answer: D - L1, L2, and L4.
Before finalizing a lumbar DXA analysis, the technologist identifies vertebroplasty cement confined to L2. L1, L3, and L4 are assessable. The displayed BMC and projected area are: L1, 8.4 g and 12.0 cm²; L2, 30.0 g and 15.0 cm²; L3, 18.0 g and 20.0 cm²; L4, 24.0 g and 24.0 cm². After appropriate exclusion, what combined lumbar BMD should be reported?
Correct answer: B - 0.900 g/cm²
The full bank has 1,020 more RTBD questions with explanations.
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