Which Diagnostic Procedure Measures Bone Loss

Question

Which diagnostic procedure measures bone loss?
A) DEXA
B) arthrocentesis
C) MRI
D) arthroscopy
E) X-ray

Accepted Answer

DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) is the gold standard diagnostic procedure for measuring bone mineral density and detecting bone loss, especially in conditions such as osteoporosis. Arthrocentesis is a procedure to remove fluid from a joint for diagnostic purposes, MRI and arthroscopy can be used to visualize soft tissue and joint damage, and X-ray is useful for detecting fractures and certain bone abnormalities but not as sensitive as DEXA for measuring bone loss.