title: [Measurements of calcaneus bone density by ultrasonography in children and adolescents].
abstract: In recent years the interest in growing in the use of ultrasonographic method for the assessment of bony tissue density. However, studies using this method were conducted almost exclusively in adult patients. The aim of this study was to apply this method for measurements in children in wide age range (7-18 years) and to determine value range of the parameters SOS, BUA and Stiffness for children in Warsaw in age and sex groups. The studies included 233 children of either sex, aged 7-18 years, healthy on medical examination coming from Warsaw schools. Achilles (Lunar Corp. WI, USA) bone densitometer was used with producer's software, 1.5c version. During examination with the Achilles device, the velocities of ultrasound beam passage through the calcaneus (SOS m/s) and the damping factor of ultrasound wave depending on its frequency (BUA db/MHz) were measured. Additionally the so called "stiffness factor" was calculated. The Achilles device was adapted for measurements in children reducing the diameter of the measuring beam to 1 cm and using pads positioning the child's foot in the device. Equal increase of SOS, BUA and Stiffness parameters with age was observed with the exception of the SOS parameter in girls which increased intensively from 7 to 12 years of age while over 12 years of age its increase was slight. Using linear regression analysis it was found that the values of SOS, BUA and Stiffness parameters depended directly proportionally on age, body weight and height. Respective correlation factors (r) were from 0.49 (body weight-SOS to 0.80 (height-BUA). The observed dependence of the SOS, BUA and Stiffness parameters on body weight, height and especially age enables presuming that the results of calcaneus density measurements by ultrasonographic method reflect the skeletal development in children.
authors.affiliation: Zakładu Biochemii i Medycyny Doświadczalnej Centrum Zdrowia Dziecka, Warszawa-Miedzylesie.
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
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002648:Child; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014463:Ultrasonography
vernacular_title: Pomiary gestości kości pietowej metoda ultrasonograficzna u dzieci i młodziezy.