Quantitative ultrasound technology and dual-energy X-ray densitometry in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism

Fifty patients with surgically proven primary hyerparathyroidism (PHPT) (11 males, 40 females, mean age 55.9±14.1 years) and 58 age- and sex-matched normal subjects were studied. The femoral lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) and quantitative ultrasonometry (QU) of the phalanges of both hands were measured in patients and controls. The premenopausal women with PHPT showed significantly lower BMD and QU values. The relative risk of osteopenia was significantly increased in patients with PHPT. There was a relationship between BMD and QU in all groups. This suggest that the involvement of bone is independent of mineral content and this observation can be helpful in selecting patients with PHPT for surgery.