X-ray Densitometry and Ultrasonometry of the Heel — Precision andCorrelation with Axial Bone Mineral Density

Overview

Background.
The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between dual energy x-ray absorptiometry(DXA) and quantitative ultrasonometry (QUS) of calcaneus and their correlation with axial bone mineral density.Methods and Results. 1284 subjects were tested for BMD (Bone Mineral Density) by DXA at the spine and hip(707 subjects by DPX-L, Lunar, and 577 subjects by QDR-4500 A, Hologic) and calcaneus (by PIXI, Lunar). Thecalcaneus was also measured using the QUS (Achilles Plus, Lunar), on the same day. The mean age of the patientswas 56.5±11.6 years, mean height 166 cm, mean weight 70 kg. Three subjects were selected for precision errormeasurement with low, medium and high BMD of calcaneus (T-score of -2.2, -0.77 and 2.02, respectively) andscanned with re-positioning at the right heel (PIXI and Achilles Plus) 21 times on one day for short term precisionerror and over 21 consecutive days for long term precision error. The in vivo short term precision error of the heelmeasurement (BMD, SOS, BUA) in subjects with normal BMD was 0.67 %, 0.47 % and 1.87 %, respectively; thelong term in vivo precision error was 1.14 %, 0.26 % and 2.95 %, respectively. No significant difference was foundbetween BMD values on the right and left heel. A statistically significant correlation (p

Key words:
calcaneus, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, osteoporosis, quantitative ultrasonometry.