Behavior of bone mass measurements. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry total body bone mineral content, ultrasound bone velocity, and computed metacarpal radiogrammetry, with age, gonadal status, and weight in healthy women.
OBJECTIVE
Bone mass as measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry varies with body weight. The authors studied the behavior of bone mass measurements made by ultrasound bone velocity and metacarpal radiogrammetry in relation to body weight.


METHODS
Eighty healthy women were studied: 40 post-menopausal and 40 premenopausal (mean age 60 +/- 6 and 38 +/- 8 years, respectively). The authors performed in every subject the following studies: a radiograph of the nondominant hand for metacarpal cortical thickness, a study of the 2nd to 5th proximal phalanges for ultrasound bone velocity, and total bone mineral content by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry.


RESULTS
The measurements obtained with the three methods correlated significantly with each other (P < 0.0001). The only parameter related significantly with weight were total bone mineral content (P < 0.0001). In the premenopausal women, age did not correlate with any measurement. In the postmenopausal women, age correlated significantly with the three measured parameters (P < 0.0058 to P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Weight did not influence ultrasound bone velocity and metacarpal cortical thickness measurements.
Aguado
F
F
Radiodiagnostics Service University Hospital Madrid, Spain.
Revilla
M
M
Hernandez
E R
ER
Villa
L F
LF
Rico
H
H
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography