IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2021 Nov;68(11):3309-3325. doi: 10.1109/TUFFC.2021.3090359. Epub 2021 Oct 22.
Ultrasonic backscatter techniques may offer a useful approach for detecting changes in bone caused by osteoporosis. The goal of this study was to investigate how bone mineral density (BMD) and the microstructure of human cancellous bone affect three ultrasonic backscatter parameters that have been identified as potentially useful for ultrasonic bone assessment purposes: the apparent integrated backscatter (AIB), the frequency slope of apparent backscatter (FSAB), and the frequency intercept of apparent backscatter (FIAB). Ultrasonic measurements were performed with a 3.5-MHz broadband transducer on 54 specimens of human cancellous bone prepared from the proximal femur. Microstructural parameters and BMD were measured using X-ray microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). Relationships between AIB, FSAB, FIAB, and the micro-CT parameters were investigated using univariate and multivariate statistical analysis techniques. Moderate-to-strong univariate correlations were observed between the backscatter parameters and microstructure and BMD in many cases. The partial correlation analysis indicated that the backscatter parameters are dependent on microstructure independently of BMD in some cases. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis used to generate multivariate models found that microstructure was a significant predictor of the backscatter parameters in most cases.
超声背散射技术可能为检测骨质疏松引起的骨变化提供一种有用的方法。本研究的目的是探讨骨矿物质密度（BMD）和人松质骨的微观结构如何影响已被确定为超声骨评估有用的三个超声背散射参数：表观积分背散射（AIB）、表观背散射的频率斜率（FSAB）和表观背散射的频率截距（FIAB）。使用 3.5MHz 宽带换能器对从股骨近端制备的 54 个人类松质骨标本进行了超声测量。使用 X 射线微计算机断层扫描（micro-CT）测量微观结构参数和 BMD。使用单变量和多变量统计分析技术研究了 AIB、FSAB、FIAB 与 micro-CT 参数之间的关系。在许多情况下，背散射参数与微观结构和 BMD 之间存在中度至强的单变量相关性。偏相关分析表明，在某些情况下，背散射参数独立于 BMD 依赖于微观结构。用于生成多变量模型的多元逐步线性回归分析发现，在大多数情况下，微观结构是背散射参数的重要预测因子。
