Salam, QUS is not as valid as DXA but the biggest problem is less liability of this method that makes monitoring of bone changes by QUS, less practical. However some authors endorse it for screening of osteoporosis. If you want, you can fiND more details about QUS, in my publications part at my profile. If remains other question, I will be happy to be helpful. Bye now
The accuracy of QUS is also very much dependent of the quality of the instrument used. Since QUS is evaluated solely at the calcaneum level, it is more a surrogate method to evaluate bone mass than DXA locations (vertebrae, hip, radius) regions directly submitted to fracture risk. Moreover, the more locations you use to evaluate bone mass, a better image on bone quality you have.Finally QUS cannot be used to monitor in time the efficacy of a certain antiosteoporotic therapy, such as DXA can be used.
QUS measures the attenuation of ultrasound waves through bone, typically through the calcaneum. It can be used to screen postmenopausal women for low bone density. Subjects with a low QUS value should be referred for DXA measurement, but not all subjects with low QUS values are found to have osteoporosis. Thus, QUS cannot be used to diagnose osteoporosis. In addition, as mentioned by Dr Branisteanu, QUS cannot be used to monitor patients on osteoporosis treatment. Studies of QUS in populations other than postmenopausal women are scarce.
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