[The value of skin densitometry in diagnosis of decreased bone mass in the spine of women during the period around and post-menopause].
OBJECTIVE
In peri- and postmenopausal women, the association of skin thickness with bone mass is well described, and a low skin thickness is a useful predictor of osteoporosis. In this study the association between skin thickness and bone mass of lumbar spine in peri- and postmenopausal women was assessed; and the potential for skin thickness as a screening test for osteoporosis evaluated.


METHODS
Skin thickness was measured at the arm by ultrasonography (probe 22 MHz). Bone mass was measured at lumbar spine by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. One hundred and three peri- and postmenopausal women were studied.


RESULTS
Successive decrease of skin thickness going along with the loss of lumbar spine bone mass was found. There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in skin thickness between group of females with normal bone mass and group with osteoporosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasound skin measurement is a very simple method which can be used in the diagnostics of osteoporosis of the lumbar spine in peri- and postmenopausal women.
Szymula
J
J
I Kliniki Połoznictwa i Ginekologii Instytutu Połoznictwa i Chorób Kobiecych AM w Gdańsku.
Mielnik
J
J
Szałkiewicz
J
J
Szczurowicz
A
A
Lech
M
M
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D015519:Bone Density; D003720:Densitometry / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography