The assessment of development of bone mass in children by quantitative ultrasound through the proximal phalanxes of the hand.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between quantitative ultrasound and age and body size, and to establish reference ranges for speed of sound (Ad-SoS) in the phalanxes of children. Healthy children (433), aged from 9 to 15 y were studied (226 girls and 207 boys). Ultrasound device (DBM Sonic 1200, IGEA, Italy) measuring the Ad-SoS through the phalanxes was used. Up to 11 y, the mean values for boys and girls were not significantly different. The increase of values was observed in the girls at 11 y, in the boys 2 y later. Stepwise multiple linear-regression analysis has shown that, in girls, the main factor influencing Ad-SoS was age and, in boys, height and weight. In the study, the ability of measurements of proximal phalanxes to reveal skeletal changes in healthy Polish children was shown. The study enabled us to establish the reference curves for healthy Polish children.