title: Comparison between broad-band ultrasound attenuation of the calcaneum and total body bone mineral density in children.
abstract: We measured broad-band ultrasound attenuation (BUA) in the calcaneum using the prototype Paediatric Contact Ultrasound Bone Analyser (CUBA) and total body bone mineral density (TBBMD) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (Hologic QDR-1000W) in 58, 7-17-year-old healthy children and adolescents. Calcaneal BUA was significantly related to TBBMD (r = 0.74, p < 0.001), and both the calcaneal BUA and TBBMD were significantly correlated with age and body weight. We conclude that calcaneal BUA reflects bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy children and adolescents; however, BMD measured by CUBA appears to be less sensitive than that measured by DXA. Since BUA reflects structural properties of bone, as well as density, it may complement radiological techniques of bone density measurement in the assessment of paediatric conditions associated with fracture risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: M Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Mughal
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Langton
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Utretch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Specker
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D015519:Bone Density; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044469:Racial Groups; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014463:Ultrasonography