title: Quantitative ultrasound measurements at the heel: improvement of short- and mid-term speed of sound precision.
abstract: Calcaneal quantitative ultrasound can be used to predict osteoporotic fracture risk, but its ability to monitor therapy is unclear possibly because of its limited precision. We developed a quantitative ultrasound device (foot ultrasound scanner) that measures the speed of sound at the heel with the aim of minimizing common error sources like the position and penetration angle of the ultrasound beam, as well as the soft tissue temperature. To achieve these objectives, we used a receiver array, mechanics to adjust the beam direction and a foot temperature sensor. In a group of 60 volunteers, short-term precision was evaluated for the foot ultrasound scanner and a commercial device (Achilles Insight, GE Medical, Fairfield, CT, USA‎). In a subgroup of 20 subjects, mid-term precision (1-mo follow-up) was obtained. Compared with measurement of the speed of sound with the Achilles Insight, measurement with the foot ultrasound scanner reduced precision errors by half (p < 0.05). The study indicates that improvement of the precision of calcaneal quantitative ultrasound measurements is feasible.
authors.affiliation: Sektion Biomedizinische Bildgebung, Klinik für Radiologie und Neuroradiologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: m.daugschies@rad.uni-kiel.de.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daugschies
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brixen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Internal Medicine, Kolding Hospital, Kolding, Denmark.
authors.forename: Pernille
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.affiliation: Sektion Biomedizinische Bildgebung, Klinik für Radiologie und Neuroradiologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.affiliation: Sektion Biomedizinische Bildgebung, Klinik für Radiologie und Neuroradiologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Claus-Christian
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Glüer
authors.affiliation: Sektion Biomedizinische Bildgebung, Klinik für Radiologie und Neuroradiologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barkmann
mesh_terms: D015519:Bone Density; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006365:Heel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Calcaneus; Mid-term precision; Osteoporosis; Quantitative ultrasound