title: Quantitative ultrasound measurements at hand phalanges in children and adolescents: a longitudinal study.
abstract: The purpose of this longitudinal study was to characterize changes in quantitative ultrasound (QUS) values over a 1-y period in healthy boys and girls aged 7 to 12 y at baseline and assess the relation between the increase in anthropometric parameters and amplitude dependent speed of sound (Ad-SoS). A total of 269 children completed the study (139 girls and 130 boys). Ultrasound measurements were performed with a DBM Sonic 1200 device (IGEA, Carpi, Italy), which measures the Ad-SoS, m/s. Girls had significantly higher QUS values than boys at first and second measurements (p < 0.01 and p < 0.00001, respectively). Both girls and boys experienced statistically significant increases in Ad-SoS and all anthropometric parameters over a 1-y period. When the studied group was divided into age groups by year, the differences in QUS values between genders were significant only for 11 and 12 y groups at baseline (p < 0.02 and p < 0.01, respectively) and second visit (p < 0.00001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Stepwise regression analyses models with Ad-SoS at baseline and after 1 y as dependent variables showed a strong correlation between Ad-SoS and Tanner stage in girls but not in boys. In the entire survey group, only 21.5% of the boys and 41% of the girls experienced increases in Ad-SoS more than least significant change. This article suggests that QUS measurements allow the investigation of longitudinal changes and give reliable information about skeletal status in a manner similar to other methods.
authors.affiliation: Public Clinical Hospital N 1 in Zabrze, Zabrze, Poland. zphalaba@gmail.com
authors.forename: Zenon P
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Halaba
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D050278:Finger Phalanges / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014463:Ultrasonography