Quantitative ultrasonometry (QUS) for the evaluation of osteoporosis risk: reference data for various measurement sites, limitations and application possibilities.

Osteoporosis is a wide-spread disease characterized by low bone mass, deterioration of bone structure and typical fractures, which lead to pain, disability and high costs for health systems. Quantitative Ultrasonometry (QUS) is a new, non-invasive method to study bone density and structure in vivo. This technique has the following advantages: it is safe; it is easy to use, there is no radiation load on the patient, and instruments can be transported and are relatively cheap, as compared with the substantially more expensive methods of traditional osteodensitometry (dual X-ray absorptiometry = DXA, quantitative computed tomography = QCT).

Ultrasound transmission speed and ultrasound bone profile score (UBPS) of the phalanges in normal women and women with osteoporosis.

The distal metaphysis of the first phalanx of the fingers II-V is, like the vertebral body, a useful site for the measurement of mineralisation and structure of the bone because of the simultaneous presence of compact and trabecular bone. With an ultrasound device (DBM sonic 1200, IGEA, Italy), we measured the adSOS (the amplitude dependent speed of sound) and the UBPS (ultrasound bone profile score), a score which is calculated from the graphic traces of the receiving probe with an expert system which uses fuzzy-logic at phalanges II-IV, as well as bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Precision of the measurements was as follows: adSOS: short-time-CV% = 0.

[Osteosonography of the phalanges of men].

Background: The distal metaphysis of the first phalanx of the fingers II to V is, like the vertebral body, a useful site for the measurement of mineralisation and structure of the bone, because of the simultaneous presence of compact and trabecular bone.

Method: With an osteosonographic device (DBM sonic 1200, IGEA, Italy) we measured in 38 young and healthy men, 14 elderly and healthy men, 18 men with osteopenia, 8 men with osteoporosis and vertebral fractures and 10 men with long-standing cortisone medication, the adSOS (amplitude-dependent speed of sound) and the UBPS (ultrasound bone profile score) at the phalanges, as well as bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine using dual-X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Results: There was no correlation between adSOS or UBPS and lumbar BMD (DXA).