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Updated: Jun 29, 2026
Diffusion Imaging in the Rat Cervical Spinal Cord
Published on: April 7, 2015
Age-related changes of bone marrow of normal adult man on diffusion weighted imaging
Chun-Yan Zhang1, Rong Rong, Xiao-Ying Wang
1Department of Radiology, Peking University First Hospital, Functional Imaging Center, Advanced Academy of Interdisciplinary Sciences, Peking University, Beijing.
Objective:
To investigate the signal intensity and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of bone marrow of normal adult man on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI).
Methods:
Fifteen healthy volunteers and thirty-eight patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia or normal prostate were enrolled in this study, with age range 28-82 years old (mean 55.26 +/- 18.05 years). All people were examined with large field DWI on a 3.0T magnetic resonance scanner, which ranges from the top of head to the lower limb. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) on the DWI and ADC of lumber vertebra at renal hilum level, left ilium and superior segment of left femur were measured. The measured SNR and ADC value of the above sites were compared by one way analysis of variance and their correlations with age were investigated by Pearson's correlation analysis.
Results:
The SNR of lumber vertebra, left ilium and left femur showed no significant difference (F= 0.271, P = 0.763). The SNR of lumber vertebra (r = 0.309, P = 0.024) and left ilium (r = 0.359, P = 0.008) showed positive correlation with age, while the SNR of left femur showed no correlation with age (r = -0.163, P = 0.283). The ADC of lumber vertebra [(0.617 +/- 0.177) x 10(-3) mm2/s] was significantly higher than that of left ilium [(0.404 +/- 0.112) x 10(-3) mm2/s, P < 0.001] and left femur [(0.362 +/- 0.092) x 10(-3) mm2/s, P < 0.001], while the ADC of left ilium and left femur had no significant difference. The ADC of lumber vertebra, left ilium and left femur showed no correlation with age.
Conclusion:
Understanding of age-related changes of normal adult bone marrow on DWI is very important to differentiate the normal bone marrow and abnormal lesions.
Insights
Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) reveals varying signal intensity and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in normal adult bone marrow. Understanding these age-related changes is crucial for distinguishing healthy tissue from abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Biophysics
Background:
- Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is a valuable MRI technique.
- Bone marrow characterization using DWI requires understanding normal tissue properties.
- Age-related changes in bone marrow can affect imaging parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the signal intensity and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of normal adult bone marrow using DWI.
- To establish reference values for bone marrow DWI parameters in healthy adults.
- To assess the correlation between age and bone marrow DWI parameters.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 3.0T MRI with large field DWI on 15 healthy volunteers and 38 patients.
- Measured signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and ADC in the lumbar vertebra, left ilium, and left femur.
- Analyzed data using ANOVA for group comparisons and Pearson's correlation for age-related changes.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in SNR across the lumbar vertebra, left ilium, and left femur.
- Positive correlation between age and SNR in the lumbar vertebra and left ilium.
- Significantly higher ADC in the lumbar vertebra compared to the ilium and femur; no age correlation for ADC.
Conclusions:
- Normal adult bone marrow exhibits distinct ADC values across different anatomical sites.
- Age influences bone marrow SNR in specific locations but not ADC.
- DWI parameters provide essential data for differentiating normal bone marrow from pathological conditions.
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