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Utility of Ultrasound to Assess Risk of Fracture
Author(s) -
Cheng Sulin,
Tylavsky Frances,
Carbone Laura
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1997.tb02940.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ultrasound , medical physics , densitometry , software portability , bone density , radiology , osteoporosis , computer science , pathology , programming language
Traditional assessments of bone properties have utilized densitometry techniques such as Dual Energy X‐ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Recently, quantitative ultrasound (QUS) has been introduced as an alternative method of assessing bone properties. Advantages of QUS over X‐ray techniques include low costs, portability, and nonionizing radiation. Proponents of QUS have claimed that this technology can provide information not only about the density but also about the structure and mechanical properties of bone. There are two major questions that need to be answered for those who seek to diagnose bone disorders with ultrasound: (1) what does quantitative ultrasound actually measure, and, even more importantly, (2) what is its clinical utility? In this review we will briefly examine the first question and will focus on the utility of ultrasound in clinical trials to discriminate between fractures and non‐fractures and to predict the risk of fractures. J Am Geriatr Soc 45:1382–1394, 1997 .