[The value of skin densitometry in diagnosis of decreased bone mass in the spine of women during the period around and post-menopause].

OBJECTIVE

In peri- and postmenopausal women, the association of skin thickness with bone mass is well described, and a low skin thickness is a useful predictor of osteoporosis. In this study the association between skin thickness and bone mass of lumbar spine in peri- and postmenopausal women was assessed; and the potential for skin thickness as a screening test for osteoporosis evaluated.

DESIGN/METHODS: Skin thickness was measured at the arm by ultrasonography (probe 22 MHz). Bone mass was measured at lumbar spine by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. One hundred and three peri- and postmenopausal women were studied.

RESULT

Successive decrease of skin thickness going along with the loss of lumbar spine bone mass was found. There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in skin thickness between group of females with normal bone mass and group with osteoporosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasound skin measurement is a very simple method which can be used in the diagnostics of osteoporosis of the lumbar spine in peri- and postmenopausal women.