A 65-year-old woman has a DEXA scan T-score of -2.8 at the lumbar spine. She has no prior fragility fracture. According to WHO criteria, she has:
- A Osteoporosis (T-score ≤ -2.5) ✓
- B Normal bone density (T-score > -1.0)
- C Osteopaenia (T-score between -1.0 and -2.5)
- D Severe osteoporosis (T-score ≤ -2.5 with prior fracture)
Correct answer: A. Osteoporosis (T-score ≤ -2.5)
Explanation
WHO DEXA criteria: Normal = T-score > -1.0; Osteopenia = T-score between -1.0 and -2.5; Osteoporosis = T-score ≤ -2.5; Severe (established) osteoporosis = T-score ≤ -2.5 with one or more fragility fractures. T-score is the number of standard deviations from the mean bone mineral density of a young healthy reference population. Z-score (compared to age-matched peers) is used in premenopausal women and men <50 years.
Reference: Maheshwari Essential Orthopaedics, 6th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.