The aims of the study were to assess the clinical conformity between quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and densitometry with use of the standard World Health Organization T-score thresholds to determine optimal diagnostic cutoff values for QUS T-scores in different age groups. Three hundred sixty-five postmenopausal Caucasian women were enrolled into the study and divided into two age groups (<65 y and ≥65 y). Skeletal status was assessed using QUS measurements at the calcaneus and bone densitometry at the spine and proximal femur (Hologic Explorer, Bedford, MA, USA). QUS measurement results expressed as the stiffness index (SI) correlated significantly with both femoral neck bone mineral density (r = 0.51, p < 0.0001) and lumbar spine bone mineral density (r = 0.52, p < 0.0001). On the basis of receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, the thresholds for correspondence between QUS T-score values and T-score –2.5SD in dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were established. They ranged between –1.63SD and –1.70SD in relation to femoral neck DXA and between –1.22SD and –1.51SD in relation to lumbar spine DXA, depending on age category. In conclusion, the study described here confirmed that QUS measurements at the calcaneus may provide information comparable to DXA examinations at the femoral neck and lumbar spine in postmenopausal women.

该研究的目的是评估定量超声 (QUS) 和密度测定法之间的临床一致性，使用标准的世界卫生组织T分数阈值来确定不同年龄组 QUS T分数的最佳诊断临界值。三百六十五名绝经后白人女性被纳入研究，并分为两个年龄组（<65 岁和 65 岁以上）。使用跟骨的 QUS 测量值和脊柱和股骨近端的骨密度测量法（Hologic Explorer，Bedford，MA，USA）评估骨骼状态。以刚度指数 (SI) 表示的 QUS 测量结果与股骨颈骨矿物质密度显着相关 ( r  = 0.51, p< 0.0001) 和腰椎骨矿物质密度 ( r  = 0.52, p < 0.0001)。在接受者操作特征曲线分析的基础上，建立了双 X 线吸收测定法 (DXA) 中 QUS T值与T值–2.5SD之间对应关系的阈值。根据年龄类别，与股骨颈 DXA 相关的范围在 –1.63SD 和 –1.70SD 之间，与腰椎 DXA 相关的范围在 –1.22SD 和 –1.51SD 之间。总之，这里描述的研究证实，跟骨的 QUS 测量可能提供与绝经后女性股骨颈和腰椎的 DXA 检查相当的信息。