| dc.description.abstract | Objective: To assess the utility of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) ofthe calcaneus for diagnosing osteoporosis compared to the gold standard, bone
densitometry using dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), according to published reports.
Design: In this systematic review, the Medline/
/PUBMED, Medline Ovid and Journals@Ovid, and
Wilson General Sciences Full Text database were
used. The search strategy involved use of the followingMeSHdescriptors:[osteoporosisAND(densitometry OR ultrasonography)], and 39 articles
published between 2001 and April 2010 were assessed. However, only six articles metthe inclusion
criteria: sensitivity and specificity of QUS, sample
(women or men with no treatment or other disease
likely to change bone mass index), devices used,
comparativeT-score betweenQUS ofthe calcaneus
and DXA. The GE-Lunar Achilles and Hologic Sahara devices were used in most of the tests reported and were effective.
Results: All studies assessed compared QUS of the
calcaneus to DXA of the lumbar spine or femoral
neck, as the gold standard. QUS sensitivity ranged
from 79% to 93% and specificity ranged from 28%
to 90% when at the lower threshold. It is a controversial parameter, because the gold-standard
threshold (T-score < -2.5, DXA) could not be used
for QUS without errors in osteoporosis diagnosis.
All studies had a threshold determined by the authors’ criteria, with a variability of -1.7 (pDXA T-
-score) and -2.4 for QUS, leading to the same prevalence of osteoporosis, and a T-score of < -3.65 for
QUS was equivalent to a T-score < -2.5 for DXA | |
