Course Description
Ten million Americans have been diagnosed with osteoporosis and 53 million have low bone density, placing them at an increased risk for fragility fractures. As a result, 1 in 4 people will break a bone due to this disease, and the hospitalization burden of osteoporotic fractures is greater than that of heart attacks, stroke, and breast cancer. While effective treatments exist, osteoporosis remains undiagnosed in 80% of patients due to a lack of accurate screening. Bone density measurements via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) have been accepted as the gold standard to identify patients at risk for osteoporosis and fragility fractures. As a result, DEXA scanners serve a single purpose and are not typically used proactively, leading millions of patients to remain undiagnosed with this silent disease. However, computed tomography (CT) offers the ability to perform bone density measurements opportunistically as part of a routine scan. CT can effectively separate trabecular bone from the cortical shell, allowing for excellent bone density measurements and a more complete use of the information obtained via CT. This course will review the characteristics of osteoporosis, indications for bone density measurement, and the different methods and modalities used to measure bone density, including sonography, DEXA, other variations of X-ray absorptiometry, and the nuances of measuring bone density with quantitative CT (QCT). Measuring bone density with DEXA versus QCT will be compared and contrasted and detailed information and study data will be provided for preparing patients for and performing bone density measurements with QCT.

Learning Objectives
After reviewing the content, the participant should be able to:

• SUMMARIZE the impact that osteoporosis has on population health.
• RECALL the technical aspects of measuring bone density with quantitative computed tomography (QCT).
• OUTLINE the various modalities used to measure bone density and SUMMARIZE the process for each.
• COMPARE and CONTRAST the advantages and disadvantages of QCT versus dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for measuring bone mineral density and screening patients for osteoporosis.

Categories: Bone Density, CT

In order to receive CE credit, you must first complete the activity content. When completed, go to the "Take CE Test!" link to access the post-test.

Submit the completed answers to determine if you have passed the post-test assessment. You must answer 15 out of 20 questions correctly to receive CE credit. You will have no more than 3 attempts to successfully complete the post-test.

Participants successfully completing the activity content and passing the post-test will receive 1.5 ARRT Category A credits.

This program is approved by AHRA, a Recognized Continuing Education Evaluation Mechanism (RCEEM), approved by the ARRT to grant Category A CE credit.

Approved by the state of Florida for ARRT Category A credit.

Texas direct credit.

This activity may be available in multiple formats or from different sponsors. ARRT does not allow CE activities such as Internet courses, home study programs, or directed readings to be repeated for CE credit in the same biennium.

Category	Content Area	Credits
Bone Densitometry	Patient Care	0.5
Radiologist Assistant	Procedures	0.5

Category	Subcategory	Credits
Bone Densitometry	Patient Bone Health, Care, and Radiation Principles	0.5
Radiologist Assistant	Musculoskeletal and Endocrine Sections	0.5

Category	Credits
Digital	0.75
Fluoroscopy	0
Mammography	0