Radiofrequency echographic multispectrometry is a promising method for diagnosing osteoporosis and assessing the risk of low-energy fractures

Osteoporosis is a metabolic disease of the skeleton, characterized by a decrease in bone tissue mass, disruption of its microarchitecture, and an increased risk of fractures. Low-energy fractures caused by osteoporosis lead to severe complications and death in patients, worsen the quality of life, and pose a significant medical, social, and economic burden on society. Timely diagnosis of the disease and prediction of fracture risk are still largely unresolved issues, requiring the development and implementation of new technologies. Radiofrequency echographic multispectrometry is a new promising ultrasound method used in the diagnosis of osteoporosis and the assessment of the risk of fractures in this disease. Its main advantage over other methods of ultrasound densitometry is the assessment of the condition of bone tissue not of the peripheral parts of the skeleton, but of the leading areas for the diagnosis of the disease — the lumbar vertebrae and the proximal part of the femur. Unlike the “gold standard” of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, radiofrequency echographic multispectrometry does not measure bone mineral density, but rather assesses the overall condition of bone tissue by comparing the spectra of reflected ultrasound signals from the bone surface in patients with osteoporosis, healthy individuals, and those who have experienced low-energy fractures. An important advantage of radiofrequency echographic multispectrometry is its portable nature, which makes it more accessible to patients in remote areas and for those with limited mobility. International studies have demonstrated a high degree of correlation between the results obtained using radiofrequency echographic multispectrometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, which has led to the recommendation of this new technique for clinical use in patients with osteoporosis in several countries. At the same time, a different principle of the new method has potential advantages that still require validation. Based on the analysis of the cited scientific literature, the article discusses the potential opportunities and advantages of the new method, as well as the unresolved issues of its use. The authors also present several of their own clinical examples of examining patients with osteoporosis and hereditary systemic diseases using radiofrequency echographic multispectrometry and discuss the results of its use.