Multi-parametric MR imaging using apparent diffusion coefficient and fat fraction in quantification of bone marrow in...

To assess multi-parametric MR imaging with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fat fraction (FF) in detection and quantification of bone marrow involvement in pediatric patients with Gaucher disease.

This study was conducted upon 29 pediatric patients with Gaucher disease and 13 age and sex matched controls that underwent diffusion-weighted MR imaging and dual-echo gradient recalled echo imaging. The ADC and FF of the bone marrow were calculated.

There was significant difference in ADC (P = 0.001) and FF (P = 0.001) of bone marrow between patients and controls. The cutoff ADC and FF differentiate patients from controls were 0.47 × 10^-3 mm²/s and 0.36 with area under the curve of 0.947 and 0.885 and accuracy of 86.5% and 83.8% respectively. There was significant difference in ADC (P = 0.001) and FF (P = 0.001) between untreated (n = 17) and treated (n = 12) patients. The cutoff ADC and FF differentiate untreated from treated patients were 0.39 × 10^-3 mm²/s and 0.27 with area under curve of 0.886 and 0.851 and accuracy of 88% and 84% respectively.

Multi-parametric MR imaging using ADC and FF are quantitative imaging parameters that can be used for detection and quantification of vertebral bone marrow involvement in pediatric patients with Gaucher disease.