Quantitative US of the calcaneus: cutoff levels for the distinction of healthy and osteoporotic individuals.
OBJECTIVE
To calculate cutoff levels for quantitative ultrasonography (US) performed to distinguish healthy individuals and those with osteoporosis identified with dual x-ray absorptiometry.


METHODS
In 1,357 patients (856 females, aged 55.1 years +/- 15.4 [mean +/- SD]; 501 males, aged 50.4 years +/- 15), bone mineral density measurements of the lumbar spine (posteroanterior, L1 through L4) and femoral neck were obtained, and quantitative US was performed to determine the stiffness of the calcaneus. Individuals with a T score less than -2.5 (osteoporotic) at the spine and femur were identified, and upper T-score cutoff values (3 SDs from the mean) in the groups of male and female patients with osteoporosis were identified.


RESULTS
Females with dual x-ray absorptiometric values that were indicative of osteoporosis of the spine had an upper T-score cutoff value of -1.0 (males, -0.2). Females who had femoral osteoporosis showed an upper quantitative US T-score cutoff value of -0.6 (males, 0).


CONCLUSIONS
Cutoff values may permit the use of quantitative US to screen for the presence of osteoporosis in the spine and femur. Quantitative US will help to prevent unnecessary dual x-ray absorptiometric and conventional radiographic examinations.
Grampp
S
S
Department of Osteology, Universitätsklinik für Radiodiagnostik, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. stephan.grampp@univie.ac.at
Henk
C
C
Lu
Y
Y
Krestan
C
C
Resch
H
H
Kainberger
F
F
Youssefzadeh
S
S
Vorbeck
F
F
Imhof
H
H
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography