[Value of ultrasound study and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) for assessment of risk of osteoporosis].
Screening postmenopausal women for preventing osteoporosis at an early stage is the main topic of several studies. The present paper evaluates the place of ultrasound measurements in comparison with Dual Energy X-ray-absorptiometry (DEXA).


METHODS
247 women (41 women < or = 50 yrs, 103 women 50-60 yrs, 103 women > 60 yrs) underwent DEXA of the vertebrae and hip and concommittantly ultrasound measurements of the calcaneus.


RESULTS
The DEXA values in the vertebral column vary considerably and are lowest in L1 and highest in L4. The femur on the other hand shows lowest values in the Ward triangle (T = -1.6 SD), and highest in the trochanter (T = -0.3 SD). Speed of sound (SOS) gives lower T-values (-1.2 SD) than broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) (-0.3 SD). Statistical analysis (Spearman, Pearson) shows no correlation between ultrasound and DEXA measurements and therefore do not permit analogies between hip and vertebral column and vice versa.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show that the fracture risk of an individual woman can be adequately ascertained only by DEXA-measurement of vertebrae and femur. Ultrasound measurement today cannot be recommended as routine screening or diagnostic method.
Felder
M
M
Praxis für physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation, Zürich.
Haldemann
R
R
Anderhub
H P
HP
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography