October - December 2009, Volume 5, Issue 4

Poiana C

The place of quantitative ultrasound bone densitometry in the management of osteoporosis

Acta Endo (Buc) 2009, 5 (4): 507-518
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2009.507

The diagnostic classification of osteoporosis is based on dual-energy X-ray\r\nabsorptiometry (DXA). Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) bone densitometry represents an\r\nalternative noninvasive technique used in the assessment of bone status in osteoporosis. The\r\nparameters measured by QUS are associated with overall bone strength: speed of sound\r\n(SOS) is influenced by bone elasticity and density, and the broadband ultrasound attenuation\r\n(BUA) is determined by bone density and microarchitecture. QUS benefits, like: low cost,\r\nlack of ionizing radiation, readily-accessible and portability of the measurement units,\r\nincreased the acceptance by patients and physicians and made QUS an attractive alternative\r\nfor screening programs in osteoporosis.\r\nUltrasound parameters consistently showed an inverse correlation with age, with\r\nsignificant decreases after menopause and at the same time proved to be effective for\r\ndiscriminating between normal and osteoporotic subjects. Heel QUS is proven, like central\r\nDXA, to predict hip fractures and all osteoporotic fractures in elderly women.\r\nDespite its proven advantages, in parallel with the great variety of commercial\r\nultrasound devices, the optimal use of QUS in clinical practice was a matter of debate. The\r\nInternational Society for Clinical Densitometry recently defined a Position Statement\r\naddressed to the clinical application of QUS.

Keywords: quantitative ultrasound, fracture risk assessment, osteoporosis

Correspondence: Catalina Poiana, Endocrinology Department, “Carol Davila” University of\r\nMedicine and Pharmacy, 34-36 Bd. Aviatorilor, 011863, Bucharest, Romania,\r\nTel/Fax: + 4021 317 7430, e-mail: endoparhon@gmail.com