Yes, the Radiologist Made an Error
You are correct—this reading is a mistake. All your T-scores are positive (above zero), which indicates bone density ABOVE the young adult mean, representing excellent bone density that is definitively normal, not osteopenia. 1
Understanding the T-Score Classification
The World Health Organization defines bone density categories as follows 1:
- Normal BMD: T-score ≥ -1.0
- Osteopenia (low bone mass): T-score between -1.0 and -2.5
- Osteoporosis: T-score ≤ -2.5
Your T-scores are:
- Spine: +2.2
- Left femoral neck: +1.3
- Left total hip: +1.2
- Right femoral neck: +1.1
- Right total hip: +1.1
All of these values are well above -1.0, placing you firmly in the normal bone density category. 1
Why This Error Likely Occurred
The most probable explanation is a sign error in interpretation—the radiologist may have mentally converted your positive T-scores to negative values 1. This is a critical mistake because:
- A T-score of +2.2 means your bone density is 2.2 standard deviations above the young adult mean (excellent)
- A T-score of -2.2 would mean 2.2 standard deviations below the mean (osteopenia approaching osteoporosis)
These represent opposite ends of the bone density spectrum 1.
What You Should Do
Contact the imaging facility immediately to request a corrected report. 1 This is not a minor discrepancy—it could lead to:
- Unnecessary anxiety about bone health
- Inappropriate treatment recommendations
- Incorrect medical coding that affects your insurance records 2
- Unwarranted follow-up testing
Your bone density is actually exceptional for any age group, and you should be reassured rather than concerned. 1
Clinical Significance of Your Results
With positive T-scores across all measured sites, you have 1:
- No indication for osteoporosis treatment
- No need for FRAX calculation (fracture risk assessment tool used only when T-scores are in the osteopenic or osteoporotic range)
- Standard follow-up intervals rather than accelerated monitoring
- Lower fracture risk than the average young adult reference population
The correct ICD-10 code for your situation would be Z13.820 (screening encounter) with normal findings, not M85.80 (osteopenia), which the radiologist's erroneous interpretation would suggest 2.