To evaluate the portable low-frequency ultrasound device as a screening tool for skeletal fragility in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), highlighting its potential advantages over existing methods.
Key Findings:
Mean age of participants was 68 ± 10 years.
Agreement between radius DXA and VLF was K = 0.43, P < .001.
Lower radius ultrasound T-score was associated with osteoporosis at lumbar and/or femoral neck sites (OR = 1.852, 95% CI 1.08-3.18).
Fractures were associated with femoral neck T-score (OR = 1.89, 95% CI 1.24-2.89) and total hip T-score (OR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.09-2.50).
VLF ultrasound could be a useful screening tool prior to DXA in assessing fracture risk in PHPT patients.
Interpretation:
The study suggests that VLF ultrasound may serve as a preliminary screening tool for assessing bone fragility in patients with PHPT, especially when DXA is unavailable, potentially improving patient management.
Limitations:
Study limited to postmenopausal women, which may affect generalizability.
Exclusion criteria may limit the applicability to broader PHPT populations, and potential biases should be considered.
Conclusion:
VLF ultrasound shows promise as a screening tool for skeletal fragility in PHPT patients, warranting further investigation to validate its clinical utility.
