title: Ultrasound bone measurement in pediatric subjects.
abstract: Ultrasound bone measurement in healthy (n = 71) and osteopenic (n = 18) children aged 6 through 13 years of both sexes has been evaluated using the Achilles densitometer (Lunar Corporation). Measurements on the os calcis included speed of sound (SOS), broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), and a calculated "stiffness" index. The Achilles was adapted for children by a special positioning procedure that included the use of foot shims, and beam collimation on the receiving transducer. The precision of ultrasound results was comparable to that in adults (0.2% for SOS, 1.5% for BUA, and 1.8% for stiffness). SOS, BUA, and stiffness values increased with age in both sexes. Ultrasound measurements were correlated with bone mineral density (BMD in g/cm2) of the heel, AP spine (L2-L4), and total body by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) densitometry (Lunar DPX-L). SOS, BUA, and stiffness measurements were significantly lower in osteopenic children (Z approximately -1.9 to -2.5) (P < 0.0001) than in normal age-matched controls. Total body BMD showed a higher Z-score than stiffness (-3.3 versus -2.5), but stiffness showed a greater percentage decrease (-30% versus -18%). In conclusion, ultrasound measurements of bone in children provide both good precision and discrimination of normals from osteopenic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Child's Health Center, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaworski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lebiedowski
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lorenc
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trempe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008961:Models, Structural; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013131:Spine; D014463:Ultrasonography