Which skeletal site may be preferred for assessing early menopause following an oophorectomy?

• A. Forearm
• B. Spine
• C. Hip
• D. Tibia

Answer: (B)

The spine is often preferred for assessing bone density changes following early menopause, particularly after an oophorectomy, because it is highly sensitive to changes in bone density linked to hormonal fluctuations. After menopause, women experience a rapid decline in estrogen levels, leading to an increase in bone resorption and a subsequent loss of trabecular (cancellous) bone. Since the spine has a significant proportion of trabecular bone, it is more likely to reflect early changes in bone density that occur post-menopause compared to other sites.

Additionally, the lumbar spine is a common site for assessing osteoporosis risk due to its anatomical characteristics and the ease of measurement. The forearm, hip, and tibia, while important sites for DXA scans, do not show the same level of early sensitivity as the spine in the context of hormonal changes related to menopause. Specifically, the hip is more representative of cortical bone, which does not respond as rapidly to hormonal changes, and the tibia has less clinical relevance in assessing osteoporosis risk compared to the lumbar spine. Thus, for evaluating the effects of early menopause following oophorectomy, the spine is typically the preferred skeletal site.