Authors:
M. Y. K. Bilgili, S. Bulbul, S. A. Kara, C. Sanli, H. H. Erdal, D. Altinok; Ankara/TR
DOI:
10.1594/ECR03/C-0727
Purpose
Bone age is an important parameter when children with growth disorders are investigated, and it is the basis for calculation of height prediction. Hand-wrist radiographs have been used for determination of maturation and subsequent evaluation of growth potential during pre-adolescence or adolescence (1). Several methods have been developed for assessment of skeletal age on hand wrist films. For evaluation of skeletal age, the methods of Greulich-Pyle and Tanner-Whitehouse are generally used in clinical practice (2). Greulich-Pyle atlas focuses on a number of maturational indicators, which represent stages of bone development or ossification events specific for each age whereas Tanner-Whitehouse composite scores based on osseous stages and events at each level (3, 4).Ultrasonography (US) is a rapidly evolving technique that is gaining popularity for the evaluation and treatment of joint and soft-tissue disease. Inherent advantages of US include accessibility, quick scan time, low cost, multiplanar capability, and the ability to perform real-time imaging with contralateral comparison (5). In the present study, we aimed to answer the following questions,Does the US version of Greulich-Pyle atlas capable for the skeletal age assessment? If so, can we describe the standards for US version of Greulich-Pyle atlas for each year during the the first six years of life?