Accuracy of Skeletal Age Assessment in Children From Birth to 6 Years of Age With the Ultrasonographic Version of the Greulich‐Pyle Atlas

For the evaluation of skeletal age, the methods of Greulich-Pyle and Tanner-Whitehouse are generally used in clinical practice. Our investigation was undertaken to determine whether the ultrasonographic version of the Greulich-Pyle atlas is capable of assessing skeletal age. If so, we aimed to describe the standards for the ultrasonographic version of the Greulich-Pyle atlas for each year during the first 6 years of life.Ninety-seven subjects underwent left hand and wrist radiography and ultrasonographic examination for bone age assessment during a 1.5-year study. Estimated bone ages derived from the plain radiography and "hand and wrist ultrasonography charts" interpreted by use of the Greulich-Pyle atlas were compared statistically.The estimated bone ages from plain radiography and hand and wrist ultrasonography charts interpreted by use of the Greulich-Pyle atlas were significantly correlated; 71.1% of male patients had the same age in both methods, and in 84.4% of patients, the difference was less than 6 months. In 65.5% of female patients, both methods revealed the same age, and in 88.5% of them, the difference was less then 6 months.The ultrasonographic version of the Greulich-Pyle atlas can be used to estimate bone age even in ultrasonography departments. This method is highly correlated and a valid alternative to plain radiography for bone age estimation. This enables estimation of skeletal age in ultrasonography departments easily without exposing the patient to radiation.