Role of diffusion WIs and T2 * GRE pulse sequences in dubious vertebral marrow pathological lesions

Pathological lesions of the verteberal bone marrow usually replace, to a variable degree, its normal constituents. This represents a diagnostic dilemma, predominantly in old patients with high possibility of osteoporotic vertebral collapse. In this study we assessed the potentials of diffusion weighted images ( DWIs ) and T2 * GRE WIs in differentiation of such pathological changes. The difference between trabecular bone and soft tissue produces distortions in magnetic resonance images according to susceptibility differences of the pathological component. This allows discrimination between benign and malignant lesions. So our purpose was to evaluate the addition of diffusion weighted images ( DWIs ) and T2 * GRE WIs for differentiation of benign from malignant vertebral lesions; to endorse the role of MR in such lesions. One hundred cases at different radiological centers were evaluated using the same specified parameters. Our results showed that addition of diffusion and T2 * GRE WIs to MRI sequences can differentiate, to a certain degree, between bone marrow pathological lesions. Conclusion : Diffusion WIs and T2 * GRE pulse sequences can be added to previous MRI pulse sequences to support discrimination between vertebral marrow pathological lesions. Key Words : DWIs- T2 * GRE WIs- Pathological bone marrow lesion.