Related Experiment Videos
Vertebral bone marrow diffusivity in normal adults with varying bone densities at 3T diffusion-weighted imaging
Jie He1, Hao Fang2, Xiao Na Li1
11 Department of Radiology, The Third Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Biomechanical Key Laboratory of Orthopedics, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, PR China.
Acta Radiologica (Stockholm, Sweden : 1987)
|April 15, 2017
Summary
Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) reveals sex-specific differences in vertebral bone marrow. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values correlate positively with bone mineral density (BMD) in women, suggesting DWI can quantitatively assess osteoporosis.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Biomedical Imaging
- Bone Metabolism
Background:
- The relationship between vertebral bone marrow diffusivity and bone mineral density (BMD) remains controversial.
- Sex-specific differences in vertebral bone marrow diffusivity concerning varying bone densities have not been previously evaluated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively investigate the utility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in evaluating vertebral marrow changes in healthy adults across a spectrum of bone densities.
- To explore potential sex-related differences in these findings.
Main Methods:
- 124 healthy adult volunteers underwent sagittal magnetic resonance (MR) DWI of the lumbar spine.
- Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of vertebral bone marrow were measured and correlated with volumetric BMD obtained via quantitative computed tomography (QCT).
- Participants were stratified into normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups based on BMD.
Main Results:
- In female participants, ADC values decreased as BMD decreased, showing significant reductions in osteopenic and osteoporotic groups compared to the normal BMD group.
- Female participants exhibited significantly higher ADC values than male participants in the normal BMD group.
- A positive correlation was observed between ADC values and BMD in female participants (r=0.307, P=0.016).
Conclusions:
- Vertebral bone marrow diffusivity varies by sex in relation to bone density.
- Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values demonstrate a positive correlation with bone mineral density (BMD) in women.
- DWI shows promise as a quantitative tool for evaluating osteoporosis in women.