BONE-AGE IN 116 UNTREATED PATIENTS WITH TURNERS-SYNDROME RATED BY A COMPUTER-ASSISTED METHOD (CASAS)

Bone age maturation in 116 untreated patients with Turner's syndrome w as evaluated in a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis. A total o f 265 radiographs were rated using the TW2-RUS method on the computer- assisted skeletal age score (CASAS) system. Bone age was found to be r etarded from the chronological age of 3 to 6 y. Between the ages of 7 and 12 y bone age almost equalled chronological age and progressed nor mally at a rate of 1 y y(-1). Bone maturation slowed down thereafter a nd epiphyseal closure was not reached before the age of 17 y. Referenc e data art: presented on bone age and a bone age maturation curve for untreated patients with Turner's syndrome to be used in clinical pract ice. In the assessment of bone age and bone age velocity in Turner's s yndrome the CASAS system produced reliable and valid results. The abso lute difference between repeated bone age ratings was 0.26 ''y'' (medi an) with a range of 0.00-0.56 ''y''. Future studies evaluating the eff ect of growth-promoting treatment in Turner's syndrome should use a co mputerized method for the determination af bone age.