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Screening for osteoporosis: Comparison between dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and broadband ultrasound attenuation in 1000 perimenopausal women

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Abstract

This paper compares dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the spine and hip and broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) of the os calcis in 1000 perimenopausal women aged between 45 and 49 years who attended a randomized Osteoporosis Screening Programme. Significant correlations were found between all DXA results and BUA, with the trochanter giving the best numerical correlation with BUA (r=0.354,p<0.0001). BUA was not successful in predicting women with low DXA measurements, with only 44.0% of the women whose spinal DXA falls within the lowest quartile being in the lowest quartile of BUA. Although BUA is a poor predictor of spinal and hip bone mineral density it may provide additional structural information important in fracture prediction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

    A. Massie & R. W. Porter

  2. Osteoporosis Screening Unit, Rheumatology Department, City Hospital, Aberdeen, UK

    D. M. Reid

Authors
  1. A. Massie
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  2. D. M. Reid
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  3. R. W. Porter
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Massie, A., Reid, D.M. & Porter, R.W. Screening for osteoporosis: Comparison between dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and broadband ultrasound attenuation in 1000 perimenopausal women. Osteoporosis Int 3, 107–110 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01623382

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01623382

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