COMPARISON OF ULTRASOUND TRANSMISSION VELOCITY WITH COMPUTED METACARPAL RADIOGRAMMETRY AND DUAL-PHOTON ABSORPTIOMETRY

The aim of our study was to evaluate the validity of a quantitative US technique for measuring the bone density of the proximal phalanges of the nondominant hand compared with computed meta carpal radiogrammetr y and dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA) of the lumbar spine. Mean US bo ne velocity (UBV) correlated with mean metacarpal cortical index (MCI) , with mean metacarpal bone density (MBD) and with bone mineral densit y (BMD) of the lumbar spine, whereas it was correlated negatively with age and menopause duration. The average UBV was significantly higher in premenopausal women than in postmenopausal women, and higher in nor mal lumbar DPA patients than in reduced lumbar DPA patients. We conclu de that the US evaluation of the nondominant hand proximal phalanges m ay be a new alternative way for measuring bone mass in screening of os teoporosis.