Color Doppler signals in a lesion otherwise thought to be benign should prompt a biopsy, while the absence of signals in an indeterminate lesion is reassuring.

Ultrasound (US) measurements of the calcaneus are usually carried out in a region of interest (ROI) at a fixed site relative to a footplate. Recently, US transmission systems have been developed with imaging capability that enable selection of the position of ROI; the region of measurement is always the area of minimum attenuation in the posterior part of the calcaneus. This study compares measurements of broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and speed of sound (SOS) at the variable ROI of minimum attenuation (ROIv) and at fixed coordinates (ROIf). Ultrasound variables were estimated at ROIv and ROIf in 212 female subjects, including 26 patients with osteoporotic fractures. Among the 186 women without fractures, 63 were classified as having osteoporosis on the basis of their vertebral bone density. Precision of BUA and SOS were better at ROIv than at ROIf. BUA was more highly correlated with bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and femoral neck at ROIv than ROIf (r = 0.64 for lumbar spine and 0.68 for femoral neck at ROIv versus 0.50 for lumbar spine and 0.54 for femoral neck at ROIf, P < 0.05 for both comparisons). There were no significant differences between the correlations of SOS with axial BMD at ROIv compared with ROIf. Significant difference was found between the areas under the ROC curve for each ultrasound variable at ROIv and ROIf for both groups of patients, subjects with osteoporosis (area under curve = 0.87 for BUA at ROIv versus 0.82 at ROIf, P < 0.05; area under curve = 0.85 for SOS at ROIv versus 0.81 at ROIf, P < 0. 05), and women with fractures (area under curve = 0.93 for BUA at ROIv versus 0.86 at ROIf, P < 0.05; area under curve = 0.91 for SOS at ROIv versus 0.82 at ROIf, P < 0.05). Ultrasound variables measured at ROIv enable improved reproducibility and significantly better differentiation of diseased subjects from healthy individuals as compared with measurements at ROIf.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of lifetime physical activity of farmers on skeletal status. Seventy-one healthy, postmenopausal women (mean age 52.3 +/- 5.9 years, range 42-61 years) who worked professionally on farms were compared with 78 matched controls (mean age 51.8 +/- 5.5 years, range 42-61 years). Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and speed of sound (SOS) at the os calcis were measured using an ultrasound transmission imaging system. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and femoral neck were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Differences in BUA, SOS, and BMD between farmers and controls were expressed relative to standard deviation (SD) of the farmers. Farmers had significantly higher density values than controls (difference = 1.3 SD in the spine and 1.5 SD in the femoral neck, P < 0.0001 for both comparisons). Ultrasound values were significantly higher in the farmers compared with the controls in calcaneus (difference = 1.1 SD for BUA and 0.7 SD for SOS, P < 0.0001 for both comparisons). The difference of spine BMD, femoral neck BMD, BUA, and SOS between farmers and controls, as judged by comparison of the slopes of the regression lines, was unchanged with age and years since menopause. These results suggest that lifetime physical activity has a positive effect on bone status of postmenopausal farmers.

In the present study we evaluated comparatively the diagnostic value of mammography, of 99mTc-sestamibi scintimammography (sestamibi-SC) and of colour Doppler ultrasonography (CD-US) in 116 breast lesions. Diagnosis was based on histopathological examination. Overall, out of 86 malignant tumours, 80 (93%) and 75 (87%) had a positive sestamibi-SC and positive CD-US, respectively. Out of 30 benign lesions, 25 (83%) and 26 (87%) had a negative sestamibi-SC and negative CD-US respectively. The true positive results were similar in palpable and in non-palpable lesions for both methods. Out of 19 non-palpable malignant tumours, mammography confirmed malignancy in only one case (5%), which was significantly lower than the results obtained by sestamibi-SC (89%; Px0.0001) and by CD-US (74%; P=0.0001). In palpable malignant tumours, by using mamography, true positive results were obtained in 54/67 (80.5%) patients, which was significantly lower than the results obtained by sestamibi-SC (94%; P=0.03) and marginally different to the results obtained by CD-US (91%; P=0.13). It is concluded that sestamibi-SC and CD-US are useful tools in clarifying the nature of breast lesions in cases with doubtful mammography. The clinical value of these diagnostic procedures in guiding subsequent therapeutic interventions requires further investigation.

During the first trimester, embryo depth ranges from 4 to 10 cm, depending on the individual, the status of the bladder, and the maternal BMI. For an accurate determination of embryo depth, ultrasound measurement should be performed.