title: A novel ultrasound methodology for estimating spine mineral density.
abstract: We investigated the possible clinical feasibility and accuracy of an innovative ultrasound (US) method for diagnosis of osteoporosis of the spine. A total of 342 female patients (aged 51-60 y) underwent spinal dual X-ray absorptiometry and abdominal echographic scanning of the lumbar spine. Recruited patients were subdivided into a reference database used for US spectral model construction and a study population for repeatability and accuracy evaluation. US images and radiofrequency signals were analyzed via a new fully automatic algorithm that performed a series of spectral and statistical analyses, providing a novel diagnostic parameter called the osteoporosis score (O.S.). If dual X-ray absorptiometry is assumed to be the gold standard reference, the accuracy of O.S.-based diagnoses was 91.1%, with k = 0.859 (p < 0.0001). Significant correlations were also found between O.S.-estimated bone mineral densities and corresponding dual X-ray absorptiometry values, with r(2) values up to 0.73 and a root mean square error of 6.3%-9.3%. The results obtained suggest that the proposed method has the potential for future routine application in US-based diagnosis of osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conversano
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Franchini
authors.affiliation: Echolight srl, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soloperto
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiriacò
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Casciaro
authors.affiliation: Echolight srl, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aventaggiato
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Daniela
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Renna
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Paola
authors.affiliation: O.U. of Rheumatology, "Galateo" Hospital, San Cesario di Lecce, ASL-LE, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.affiliation: O.U. of Rheumatology, "Galateo" Hospital, San Cesario di Lecce, ASL-LE, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quarta
authors.affiliation: O.U. of Rheumatology, "Galateo" Hospital, San Cesario di Lecce, ASL-LE, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quarta
authors.affiliation: O.U. of Rheumatology, "Galateo" Hospital, San Cesario di Lecce, ASL-LE, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muratore
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC 06, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laugier
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Lecce, Italy. Electronic address: sergio.casciaro@cnr.it.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casciaro
mesh_terms: D015519:Bone Density; D003720:Densitometry / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Bone densitometry; Bone mineral density measurement; Lumbar spine; Osteoporosis diagnosis; Quantitative ultrasound; Radiofrequency signal analysis