[Diagnosis of osteoporosis with ultrasound densitometry of the calcaneus].
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the speed of sound (SOS) and broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) at the os calcis as an indicator of osteoporosis and observed the age-related changes in ultrasound values in normal women.


METHODS
BUA and SOS were measured in 236 women using the "Achilles" densitometer (Lunar, Madison, Ohio). From the BUA and SOS values the BUA/SOS Index ("Stiffness" Index) is calculated. We investigated 55 female patients with osteoporosis (aged 43-85 years) and 181 healthy women (aged 20-80 years).


RESULTS
Ultrasound values for women with osteoporosis were significantly lower than those for the normal control group. The Z-score compared with young normals was higher for the BUA/SOS Index (-3.1) than for BUA (-2.5) and SOS (-3.0). At a BUA/SOS Index of 68 the sensitivity was 85 %, and the specificity was 77 % for patients with osteoporotic fractures. We found a significant decline with age in SOS (r = -0.55), BUA (r = -0.50) and BUA/SOS Index (r = -0.57).


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasound bone densitometry at the os calcis can be used as a screening test in the diagnosis of osteoporosis.
Wendt
B
B
Institut für Radiologie, Kantonsspital Baden, Schweiz.
Cornelius
A
A
Otto
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012016:Reference Values; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*