Roux C, Laugier P
Centre d'Evaluation des Maladies Osseuses, Hôpital Cochin, Paris.
J Radiol. 1999 Mar;80(3):279-84.
Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) has recently been proposed for evaluating bone mineral density. Several QUS units are now commercially available. They measure both the attenuation and velocity of the US beam, in a transmission mode, mainly at the calcaneum and phalanges. These parameters are mainly related to bone density, but may also, in theory, be affected by non-quantitative properties of bone such as elasticity and anisotropy. Values measured at QUS are lowered in osteoporotic patients compared to normal control subjects. The predictive value for hip fracture in an elderly population is similar for QUS measurements and conventional techniques of bone mineral density measurements. The reproducibility of measurements with QUS is good, but the variation to be measured is only minimal. Thus, QUS cannot yet be recommended for follow up of patients or evaluation of response to treatment. Technical advances are to be expected. Because this technique is non-invasive and simple, it represents a promising tool for the screening of patients at risk for osteoporosis.
最近有人提出用定量超声（QUS）来评估骨密度。现在有几种QUS设备已在市场上销售。它们在透射模式下主要测量跟骨和指骨处超声束的衰减和速度。这些参数主要与骨密度相关，但理论上也可能受到骨的非定量特性（如弹性和各向异性）的影响。与正常对照受试者相比，骨质疏松患者的QUS测量值较低。在老年人群中，QUS测量对于髋部骨折的预测价值与传统骨密度测量技术相似。QUS测量的可重复性良好，但要测量的变化非常小。因此，目前还不推荐将QUS用于患者随访或治疗反应评估。有望取得技术进步。由于该技术是非侵入性的且操作简单，它是筛查骨质疏松高危患者的一种有前景的工具。
