Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated the ability of ultrasound techniques to differentiate normal and osteoporotic women. To define the ability of broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) of the calcaneus to predict axial bone mass, the ultrasound value was correlated with lumbar vertebral and femoral neck density in 22 Caucasian women. The three measures of bone mass inversely correlated with age: lumbar density (r=0.54), femoral neck density (r=0.65), and BUA (r=0.73). BUA correlated with lumbar (r=0.83) and femoral neck (r=0.87) density. Lumbar vertebral density predicted femoral neck density with a standard error of estimate (SEE) of 0.07 g/cm2, and femoral neck density predicted lumbar density with a SEE of 0.09 g/ cm2. BUA of the calcaneus was as effective as either axial bone mass measure in predicting the other value: the SEE for lumbar density was 0.09 g/cm2 while that for femoral neck density was only 0.06 g/cm2. The results of this preliminary study indicate that this rapid, radiation-free technique can accurately predict axial bone mass, and may be of value as an initial procedure to discriminate those women warranting more extensive radiologic evaluations.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baran DT, Kelly AM, Karellas A et al. Ultrasound attenuation of the os calcis in women with osteoporosis and hip fractures. Calcif Tissue Int 1988; 43:138–42.
Heaney RP, Avioli LV, Chesnut CH III, Lappe J, Recker RR, Brandenburger GH. Osteoporotic bone fragility. Detection by ultrasound transmission velocity. JAMA 1989; 261:2986–90.
McCloskey EV, Murray SA, Miller C et al. Broadband ultrasound attenuation in the os calcis: relationship to bone mineral at other skeletal sites. Clin Sci 1990; 78:227–33.
Agren M, Karellas A, Leahey D, Marks S, Baran D. Ultrasound attenuation of the calcaneus: a sensitive and specific discriminator of osteopenia in postmenopausal women. Calcif Tissue Int; in press.
Poll V, Cooper C, Crawley MI. Broadband ultrasonic attenuation in the os calcis and single photon absorptiometry in the distal forearm: a comparative study. Clin Phys Physiol Meas 1986; 7:375–9.
Evans WD, Crawley EO, Compston JE, Evans C, Owen GM. Broadband ultrasonic attenuation and bone mineral density. Clin Phys Physiol Meas 1988; 9:163–5.
Rossman P, Zagzebski J, Mesina C, Sorenson J, Mazess R. Comparison of speed of sound and ultrasound attenuation in the os calcis to bone density of the radius, femur, and lumbar spine. Clin Phys Physiol Meas 1989; 10:353–60.
McCloskey EV, Murray SA, Charlesworth D et al. Assessment of broadband ultrasound attenuation in the os calcis in vitro. Clin Sci 1990; 78:221–5.
Ross PD, Wasnich RD, Vogel JM. Detection of prefracture spinal osteoporosis using bone mineral absorptiometry. J Bone Miner Res 1988; 3:1–11.
Hui SL, Slemenda CW, Johnston CC Jr. Age and bone mass as predictors of fracture in a prospective study. J Clin Invest 1988; 81:1804–9.
Cummings SR, Black DM, Nevitt MC, et al. Appendicular bone density and age predict hip fracture in women. JAMA 1990; 263:665–8.
Melton LJ III. Epidemiology of fractures. In: Riggs BL, Melton LJ III, eds. Osteoporosis: etiology diagnosis, and management. New York: Raven Press, (1988) pp133–54.
Phillips S, Fox N, Jacobs J, Wright WE. The direct medical costs of osteoporosis for American women aged 45 or older. Bone 1986; 9:271–9.
Cummings SR, Kelsey JL, Nevitt MC, O'Dowd KJ. Epidemiology of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. Epidemiol Rev 1985; 7:178–208.
Heyse SP, Sartori L, Crepaldi G. Epidemiology of osteoporosis: a study of fracture mortality in Italy. Calcif Tissue Int 1990; 46:289–93.
Storm T, Thamsborg G, Steiniche T, Genant HK, Sorensen OH. Effect of intermittent cyclical etidronate therapy on bone mass and fracture rate in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. N Engl J Med 1990; 322:1265–71.
Watts NB, Harris ST, Genant HK. et al. Intermittent cyclical etidronate treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. N Engl J Med 1990; 323:73–9.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Baran, D.T., McCarthy, C.K., Leahey, D. et al. Broadband ultrasound attenuation of the calcaneus predicts lumbar and femoral neck density in Caucasian women: A preliminary study. Osteoporosis Int 1, 110–113 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01880452
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01880452