ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Limitations of the available imaging technique led the introduction of a new quantitative approach ultrasound-based for assessment of bone tissue in pediatric subjects. This new methodology use data from unfiltered radio frequency signals, collected during ultrasonographic acquisition of bone district of interest to estimate the bone mineral density. Advantages of this new technique include absence of radiation exposure, low cost of management and high portability.

Purpose: Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry (REMS) is considered a valid methodology to assess osteoporosis and osteopenia in adults. The goal of the study was to research a possible correlation between the Bone Mineral Density (BMD) values obtained with Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) and BMD derived values measured with REMS in a pediatric population.

Methods: A sample of 20 subjects in pediatric age (5-17 years old) underwent spinal and proximal femur DEXA. The same sample on the same visit received echographic scan of both spine al proximal femur. BMD derived from DEXA examination have been there after compared with BMD_OS indirectly calculated from Osteoporosis Score (OS) obtained by echographic examination of both body districts.

Results: The BMD values referred from the two methods were compared by Pearson correlation index calculation and a Bland-Altman plot building. The agreement was good for spinal BMD values (r= 0.72; p < 0.003), but only poor for femoral corresponding ones. The corresponding value of the coefficient of determination (r² = 0.53) confirms the effective force of the existing relationship between the values of BMD_OS and DEXA derived. Otherwise, at the femoral level the correlation between the BMD_OS and the densitometric values seems poor (r= 0.57) as well as supported by a much lower statistical significance (p < 0.03)

Discussion and conclusions: The results obtained at lumbar spine level highlight the new method potential for future clinical application in pediatric contest, whereas the ones obtained at proximal femur level suggest a less strong correlation. To better understand the potential use of REMS in pediatric population new studies with bigger samples are needed.