Cortical Thickness and Medullary Canal Dimensions of the Bone Phalanx Are Predicted by Quantitative Ultrasound Parameters

Guglielmi, Giuseppe; de Terlizzi, Francesca; Scalzo, Giacomo; Battista, Claudia; Scillitani, Alfredo

doi:10.1016/j.jocd.2010.01.002

« Previous Next »Journal of Clinical Densitometry
Volume 13, Issue 2 , Pages 219-227, April 2010

Cortical Thickness and Medullary Canal Dimensions of the Bone Phalanx Are Predicted by Quantitative Ultrasound Parameters

Giuseppe Guglielmi
- Department of Radiology, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
- Department of Radiology, Scientific Institute Hospital “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza,” San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Puglia, Italy
- Address correspondence to: Giuseppe Guglielmi, MD, Department of Radiology, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto 1, Foggia 71100, Italy.
Francesca de Terlizzi
- Scientific Department IGEA S.P.A. Biophysics Laboratory, Carpi, Modena, Italy
Giacomo Scalzo
- Department of Radiology, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
Claudia Battista
- Division of Endocrinology, Scientific Institute Hospital “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza,” San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Puglia, Italy
Alfredo Scillitani
- Division of Endocrinology, Scientific Institute Hospital “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza,” San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Puglia, Italy

Received 26 August 2009; received in revised form 26 November 2009; accepted 1 January 2010.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters extracted from the analysis of the ultrasound (US) signal and the geometric properties of the bones. One hundred and one subjects in the age range of 20–74yr (mean: 52±12yr) have been measured by QUS at the phalanges for the evaluation of amplitude-dependent speed of sound (AD-SoS), bone transmission time (BTT), US peak amplitude (UPA), signal dynamic (SDY), slope, energy, and fast wave amplitude (FWA). Hand radiograph, lumbar spine dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT), and femoral neck DXA forearm peripheral QCT were performed on all patients. BTT is related to cortical thickness (CTh) (r=0.62, p<0.0001), and FWA is related to medullary canal thickness (r=−0.64, p<0.0001). Other parameters are related to both medullary canal thickness (AD-SoS: r=−0.21; UPA: r=−0.53; SDY: r=−0.56; slope: r=−0.64; energy: r=−0.44, p<0.05) and CTh (AD-SoS: r=0.54, p<0.0001; UPA: r=0.51; SDY: r=0.38; slope: r=0.32; energy: r=0.56, p<0.001). Linear multivariate models indicate that BTT, UPA, and energy measured at the phalanges carry independent information on CTh of the bone, whereas FWA, SDY, and slope are related only to medullary canal thickness.