[Co-existence of reduced femur neck density and reduced skin thickness].
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 femoral neck 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 the neck of femur 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 femoral neck bone mass was found. There was a statistically significant difference in skin thickness between group of females with normal bone mass and group with osteopenia (p < 0.05) and osteoporosis (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasound skin measurement is a very simple method which can be used in the diagnostics of osteopenia and osteoporosis of the neck of femur in peri- and postmenopausal women.
Szymula
J
J
I Klinika Połoznictwa i Ginekologii Instytutu Połoznictwa i Chorób Kobiecych Akademii Medycznej w Gdańsku.
Mielnik
J
J
Szałkiewicz
J
J
Szczurowicz
A
A
Lech
M
M
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography