title: Role of DEXA and ultrasonometry in the evaluation of osteoporotic risk in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the role of quantitative ultrasonography (QUS) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in the assessment of osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 1999 to November 2001, 596 women who have not been diagnosed osteoporosis and without previous history of pathologic fractures were enrolled in this study. They had a mean age of 58.7+/-8.5 years, a mean height of 166+/-3.5 cm and a mean weight of 66+/-4.1 kg. According to the age, women were divided into three groups: group A included women between 45 and 55 years; group B women between 56 and 66 years and group C women between 67 and 77 years. Each patient underwent to both methods to determine the presence of osteoporosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QUS resulted in a greater number of women of group A at risk of osteoporosis, whereas DEXA indicated that more women of group C were at increased osteoporotic risk. QUS and DEXA gave concordant results only in women of group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggested that QUS screening for osteoporosis may be more suitable for 'younger' postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Section of Endocrinology, Andrology and Internal Medicine, Department of Microbiological and Gynecological Sciences, University of Catania, Via G. D'Annunzio 125, 95127, Catania, Italy. pafumi@unict.it
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pafumi
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiarenza
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zizza
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roccasalva
authors.forename: Lilliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ciotta
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pernicone
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bandiera
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giardina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cianci
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography