Bone marrow cellularity MRI calculation and correlation with bone marrow biopsy
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Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Automated Quantification of Hematopoietic Cell – Stromal Cell Interactions in Histological Images of Undecalcified Bone
Published on: April 8, 2015
George R Matcuk1, Imran Siddiqi2, Steven Cen1
1Department of Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California.
Purpose:
To calculate bone marrow cellularity from MRI and correlate with bone marrow biopsy.
Methods:
Twenty-seven lymphoma patients with staging bone marrow biopsies and lumbar MRI were reviewed. Cellularity was calculated from T1 signal intensity measurements=100 - {[(marrow - CSF)/(subcutaneous fat - CSF)] X 100}.
Results:
The histologic cellularities demonstrated significant correlation with iliac bone MRI cellularity (r=0.59, P=.001). Cellularities increased from T11 to S1. Cellularity decreased with age=67.6 - (age X 0.36).
Conclusions:
Marrow cellularity from MRI shows statistically significant correlation with biopsy and significant differences between vertebral levels and changes with age.
